The Election Commission, in its circular to the Chief Electoral Officers of the States/Union Territories, has made it clear that the “press is not expected to indulge in canvassing of a particular candidate/party. If it does, it shall allow the right of reply to the other candidate/party.”
The EC highlighted this while referring to the 1996 regulations of the Press Council of India (PCI).
It said: “Newspapers are not expected to indulge in unhealthy election campaigns, exaggerated reports about any candidate/party or incident during the elections. While reporting on actual campaign, a newspaper may not leave out any important point raised by a candidate and make an attack on his or her opponent.”
The EC accepted the PCI's definition of paid news that says: “Any news or analysis appearing in any media (print and electronic) for a price in cash or kind as consideration.”