New Delhi, Dec 3 (Agencies) : Reliance Jio’s controversial decision to use Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s photograph in front-page newspaper advertisements could see the telecom giant receive a paltry fine of Rs. 500. The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1950 prohibits the improper usage of emblems and names for professional and commercial purposes.
“No person shall, except in such cases and under such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Government, use, or continue to use, for the purpose of any trade, business, calling or profession, or in the title of any patent, or in any trade mark or design, any name or emblem specified in the Schedule or any colourable imitation thereof without the previous permission of the Central Government or of such officer of Government as may be authorised in this behalf by the Central Government,” the Act said
According to the Act, “Any person who contravenes the provisions of Section 3 shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees”
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha to a question by Samajwadi Party’s Neeraj Shekhar, Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore admitted that it was aware that Reliance Jio used the Prime Minister’s photographs in the advertisement.
“Yes sir, the government was aware,” said Rathore, adding that no permission was granted by the PMO.
The Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP), a media unit of the Ministry, is the nodal agency for release of advertisements on the policies and programme of the government in various media vehicles, but “releases government advertisements only and does not release advertisements of any private body,” he said. As Shekhar sought to know about the actions taken against Jio, if permission was not taken in advance, Rathore replied that the Emblems and Names (prevention of improper use) Act 1950, is administered by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
The front-page newspaper ads had stirred a controversy with the opposition parties raising question about the legitimacy of the ad.