The Bombay High Court recently ordered the State of Maharashtra to set up a three-member oversight committee by December 14 to prevent misuse of public funds in government advertising. This directive followed the state’s delay in adhering to a Supreme Court mandate that called for transparent and accountable government advertising practices.
Expressing dismay, a bench led by Justice MS Sonak and Justice Jitendra Jain criticized the absence of a committee in Maharashtra, which has led to unchecked advertising expenditures and questionable placements of government ads. The bench pointed to a Supreme Court decision in Common Cause v. Union of India, where it was determined that public funds should not serve political objectives.
The court was responding to a petition filed by the Editors’ Forum, accusing Maharashtra agencies, including the Bombay Municipal Corporation, City and Industrial Development Corporation, and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, of disregarding guidelines. The petition highlighted issues such as unauthorized ad placements in unapproved media outlets and dealings with non-compliant agencies, citing violations of multiple government resolutions from 2001 through 2015.
In response, state representatives argued compliance with existing guidelines, though the court deemed their explanations unsatisfactory. The court emphasized that the Chief Secretary of Maharashtra should take personal responsibility for setting up the committee, stressing the need for active oversight to prevent the use of public funds for purposes outside government accountability.
The court’s order aims to enforce strict adherence to transparency and prevent the furtherance of political aims through state-funded advertisements.
