Delhi High Court seeks Centre response on PM photos in private ads

Delhi high court. (File)

The Delhi High Court Monday issued a notice to the Centre seeking its response on a plea to ban the use of photographs of persons holding constitutional posts, including the President and the Prime Minister, in private advertisements.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice  C Hari Shankar was hearing the plea, filed by a Delhi resident, Ajay Gautam. The bench, while asking the Central Government Standing Counsel (CGSC) to place before it the existing policy pertaining to the issue, also sought the response of the Press Council of India.

The CGSC informed the bench that the Centre was taking cognisance of the issue. “A common man falls prey to such advertisements which carry messages and photos of persons holding constitutional posts… and claim support. In this manner, citizens are exploited by such ads,” the plea stated.