The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has constituted a three-member panel, headed by former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) BB Tandon, to see that guidelines set for government advertisements by the Supreme Court are followed. Senior TV journalist Rajat Sharma and ad-man Piyush Pandey will be the other members of the committee.

In an order delivered in May 2015, the Supreme Court had laid down norms for government advertisements. The apex court had also directed the central government to constitute a three-member committee “consisting of persons with unimpeachable neutrality and impartiality” to regulate the issue of public advertisements.

In its May 2015 order, the Supreme Court had criticised “personality cult” terming it as an anti-thesis of democracy and barred publication of photos of leaders in government advertisements except those of the President, Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India.

Supreme Court in its order had issued Guidelines on Regulating Government Advertisements based on recommendations of Prof NR Madhava Menon Committee. In its order, SC had barred publication of photos of leaders in government advertisements except those of the President, Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India.

The court, however, in March this year modified its earlier order and allowed photographs of Chief Ministers, Governors and ministers to be carried in public advertisments.