Govt not to use photos of Badal, other leaders in ads

[Smita]

The Punjab Government has issued orders to all departments in the state not to use photographs of the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister or any other minister in public advertisements, on stationery, cards, vehicles or in any other form. Balwant Singh, Joint Secretary, Department of General Administration (DGA), Punjab, issued directions (vide letter No. 15/42-2013, C Cell (1)/288) to the heads of all departments, divisional commissioners, deputy commissioners and chiefs of all boards and corporations in this regard on August 20. Earlier, the CM’s photographs were carried on ration cards, bicycles distributed under the Mai Bhago Scheme, sports kits, PSEB class VIII textbooks and Bhagat Puran Singh Health Insurance Scheme cards. The photographs of the Deputy CM and other Akali ministers and leaders were displayed on RO water plants across the state. The latest directions would be effective for three months. On May 13, decrying “personality cult” as an anti-thesis of democracy, the Supreme Court had barred the publication of photographs of political leaders in government advertisements, except those of the President, Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India. While the Department of General Administration has stopped the fresh use of such photographs, there is no order about the removal of hoardings already installed at various places in urban areas.

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