WHY IN NEWS? Cracking down on anonymous political hoardings, the Election Commission (EC) sought the disclosure of names of their publishers and printers for traceability and accountability. WHY DISCLOSURE OF IDENTITY WAS CRUCIAL? Disclosure of the identity of publishers was crucial for “regulating campaign financing and fixing of responsibility in case the content is found unbecoming of the framework of the Model Code of Conduct or the statutory provisions”, the poll body said.

WHICH STATUTORY PROVISION IS RELATED WITH THIS?

Section 127A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, prohibits the printing or publishing of election pamphlets, posters, placards, or banners without prominently displaying the name and address of the printer and publisher.