Ban Caste-based Election Survey, Demands Plea in Kerala HC

KOCHI: Media should be restricted from conducting and telecasting results of election surveys on the basis of religion and community, demands a petition filed before the Kerala High Court on Tuesday.

Telecasting of election surveys based on religion and community should be declared as unconstitutional and against the secular principles of the Indian Constitution, the petition filed by MK Moideenkutty of Kottakkal in Malappuram and another stated.

The petitioners point out that a leading Malayalam news channel had recently aired results of a pre-election survey that included religion and caste-based voting trends. High court should direct the Election Commission to take action against the news channel, the petitioners demand.

Petitioners are aggrieved by the communalisation of opinion poll results by the electronic media prepared and telecasted with an ulterior intention of shaping the public opinion leading to communal mobilisation and polarisation of voters, the petition filed through advocate Sreelal Warriar stated.

Telecasting election survey results based on religion and caste violates the Norms of Journalistic Conduct by Press Council of India, it is alleged. If religion and caste-based surveys are allowed to be telecasted, it would result in pampering of some of the citizens by those successful in the elections and victimization of some others, the petition said. An admission hearing on the petition is expected on Wednesday.