Delhi Lokayukta wants DAVP panel to certify circulation figures before giving govt. ads

NEW DELHI: Delhi Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin has favoured setting up of a panel of Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity for empanelment as well as granting of government advertisements.

The order by the Lokayukta came following a complaint that a local newspaper misrepresented facts about circulation figure in getting advertisement from government agencies and departments in Delhi.

In his order, Justice Sarin particularly sought a thorough verification of circulation figures of newspapers, journals and magazines owned, edited and published by “public functionaries”.

“Whenever a public functionary is the owner, editor, printer or publisher or otherwise has a substantial interest in the newspaper, journal, magazine, then the verification of circulation be made compulsory,” he said.

“A committee of officers of DAVP be constituted for grant of empanelment subject to verification of circulation by Registrar of Newspapers for India (RNI),” the Lokayukta said in the order.

The complainant had alleged that a local newspaper has printed a few copies with a view to obtain advertisements from government departments.