New Delhi, Mar 03: The Delhi High Court today asked the Centre to disclose the amount of expenditure incurred on the much publicised 'India Shining' campaign. A division bench, comprising Chief Justice B C Patel and Justice B D Ahmed, without issuing notice, asked the Centre to also produce by next week the guidelines for incurring such huge expenditure.
The bench was dealing with two Public Interest Litigations (PILs), seeking a ban on the publicity blitz and a full and proper statement of funds used in the 'India Shining', 'Bharat Uday' campaign. On February 29, the Election Commission announced the election schedule, which brought the model code of conduct into effect, bringing an end to the advertisement campaign.
The Delhi HC observed that the ‘India Shining’ campaign is matter of opinion and opinions vary from person to person. Court even asked Centre to let people of India decide their opinion on the government themselves.
The petitioners -- Unemployed Youth Unity Movement through its president and general secretary, and advocate Chanchal Thakur -- alleged that the campaign was to benefit one political party.
On February 25, the Centre had defended its advertisement campaign in the high court, saying it was the government's right to inform the public about its achievements.
Bureau Report