Mysuru: The District-level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) and Media Monitoring Cell has been opened in the first floor at the Office of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) to monitor Poll Code violations in Mysuru-Kodagu Parliamentary seat by scrutinising the contents of programmes telecast by electronic media, social media sites and published in newspapers.

However, since Mar.14, the day the Cell started functioning, there is no breach of Model Code of Conduct in this Constituency.

This Cell works round-the-clock to scrutinise programmes aired by 11 Kannada TV channels and advertisements to ensure strict adherence to directions of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The District Administration has installed more than 19 TV sets to record the programmes and check Poll Code violations plus two systems to check any incendiary postings on social media.

The Cell, headed by DC Abhiram G. Sankar, who is also the Returning Officer, has deputed special four-plus-two member staff to work in three shifts besides constituting an Official Committee to study election related advertisements.

District Information and Publicity Department Assistant Director R. Raju, who is also the Nodal Officer, said that everyday, the Media Cell records political speeches telecast in all Kannada channels and collects paper clippings, speeches of candidates, fake news, postings on social media and cuttings of advertisements and the same will be reported to the ECI officials on a regular basis for further action. The close observation will continue until the day of voting.

The DC said that it is mandatory for all electronic media to obtain certification for the political advertisements that are going to be telecast in their respective media in advance.

The respective media houses will be held liable for violation of Model Code of Conduct if the advertisements are not duly certified by the Monitoring Committee, he said.