SC notices states over ads on political figures

New Delhi, Jul 28: Taking serious note of the huge wasteful expenditure on advertisements, glorifying individual political leaders, from the state exchequer, the Supreme Court today issued notices to all the states.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal, Mr Justice S H Kapadia and Mr Justice C K Thakkar directed that the standing counsel of the states will be served with a court notice and they have to file their response on the issue within six weeks. Notices will go even to the states which are not parties in the present PIL.

The petitioner Manzoor Ali Khan in his PIL has contended that crores of public money was going down the drain on such advertisements.

Mr D K Garg, counsel for the petitioner pleaded with the court to lay down some guidelines to put an end to such wasteful expenditure so that the money can be used for the welfare of common man.

The Court, expressing concern over big advertisements being issued by various ministries and departments of the government, told the counsel for the Central government that on one hand so many welfare schemes are put on hold due to ever increasing budget deficit while on the other crores of public money was spent in glorifying politicians.

The court also said, ''It is time for interospection and it is not applicable only to the centre but to all states and union territories also.'' Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium appearing for the Central government assured the court, ''We will certainly look into the matter and come back to the court with effective suggestion to check such unwarranted and unjusified expenditure.'' The Court was of the view that expenses for such ads should be borne by the concerned political parties and not by the states.

The Court in its order noted, '' Prima facie the matter requires reflection by the Centre and the State governments.'' The affidavit to be filed by the state shall also disclose the guidelines for incurring the expenditure, complained of in the petition, which is in the nature of congratulatory messages for one or the other leader.

UNI