The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued a significant ruling restricting the state government from including photographs of former chief ministers, names, or symbols of political parties in advertisements for welfare schemes. This decision mandates that all government-funded advertisements strictly focus on public interest messaging without political branding.
The court emphasized that public funds should not be utilized for political propaganda or projecting individual leaders. This directive aligns with Supreme Court guidelines established in 2015 (Common Cause vs Union of India case) which outlined principles to prevent ruling parties from exploiting public money for political promotion through advertisements.
Key aspects of the High Court order include:
1. Prohibition of photographs of former CMs in welfare scheme advertisements
2. Ban on political party names, symbols, or logos in government ads
3. Mandatory inclusion of disclaimers specifying funding sources
4. Requirement for factual accuracy in all advertised claims
Justice Vivek Rusia’s bench highlighted concerns about previous administrations potentially using welfare advertisements to create ‘personality cults’ rather than communicating genuine public service information. The ruling stressed that such practices distort democratic processes and violate constitutional principles.
This judgment follows petitions challenging the alleged misuse of public funds for political gains through advertisements. The court observed that taxpayer money must serve public welfare, not partisan interests. Current Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s government is now required to implement comprehensive reforms in its advertising policies.
The High Court established a monitoring committee to ensure compliance, comprising the Chief Secretary and Principal Secretaries of Finance and Public Relations departments. This body must submit quarterly compliance reports to the court registry until further orders.
Political analysts suggest this decision could impact electoral dynamics in Madhya Pradesh by reducing incumbents’ advantage in publicity. The ruling sets a precedent for other states regarding ethical governance communication and proper utilization of public resources.
