The Supreme Court’s landmark judgment (May 14), curbing the self-aggrandisement of politicians through government advertisements, is a much-needed step. Hitherto we had to grin and bear it for want of clear-cut guidelines. Promoting a personality cult is antithetical to the tenets of democracy, and publicity this way is a gross misuse of public funds. One hopes that there is an ombudsman to deal with violations.
R. Soundararajan,Nagapattinam
Political ‘advertorials’ are nothing but electoral propaganda that are a waste of public money. Now that the highest court in the land has ordered restraint, I should think that the next step would be to curb personality-based commerce as evident in Tamil Nadu. There have to be steps to stop the printing of a certain political leader’s photographs on water bottles sold by the State government, at bus shelters and even on bags in fair price shops.
S.S. Dharmarajan,Coimbatore
One feels that this is an example of judicial overreach. Before the orders were passed, the respective governments should have been asked to put forth their views. Ours is a parliamentary democracy.
Policy decisions such as welfare measures will have to be framed by the government of the day headed by the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister. Therefore, in highlighting achievements, these leaders will have to be given prominence. How does it cause harm?
I feel that it is well within the rights of governments to seek legal review of the judgment.
K. Sivaraman,Gummidipoondi, Tamil Nadu
