Recently, the petitioner BL Jain filed a plea in the Supreme Court against media houses and their associates/companies for airing exit polls just after the conclusion of the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Thus, allegedly influencing investors, who faced a loss of Rs 31 lakh crore, as share markets crashed after June 4 results.
As per the plea, media houses immediately debated on exit polls just after final phase of Lok Sabha elections and convinced investors to invest in share market till it opened on June 3. Thus, resulting in hike. But when actual results came, it crashed.
On June 4 counting took place and the share market crashed, resulting in a massive loss of Rs 31 lakh crore for common investors said advocate BL Sharma.
Further the petition also claimed that these prediction/Exit polls completely violated section 126 A of the Representation of People Act, 1951 and ECI guidelines dated April 2, 2024.
‘The telecast of any news/debate/programme must not give any impression of bias or prejudice in Favour of or against any political party. Unfortunately, uncontrolled and un-regulated electronic media has been working as a commercial industry and brings into play by one political party against another political party.’ stated Advocate.
It also stated that the government must vigorously safeguard robust exit polls and discussions on public interest issues.
Moreover, it also sought investigation against Axis My India, India Today Media Plex, Times Now, Independent News Service Private Ltd. (India TV), ABP News Pvt Ltd., Republic Media Network, News National Network Pvt Ltd., TV9 Bharatvarsh, and NDTV etc.
‘The Parliament of India enacted the Representation of People Act, 1951, for the smooth function of free and fair election and to regulate the election process during the elections. But through exit polls, the media houses in collusion with corporate houses started manipulating election results. This act of the respondents is violating the concept of free and fair election in a democracy and interfering with the rule of law…,’ emphasized Petition.