Merinews.com: New Delhi: Sunday, March 12, 2017.
Reliance Jio and Paytm have apologised for "inadvertently" using the Prime Minister's 's name and photograph in their advertisements.
This was stated by the consumer affairs ministry in Rajya Sabha on Friday. Both the companies have told the government that they did not use Modi's photographs for marketing their product rather it was a manner to laud his initiatives, reports have said.
"Clarifications were sought by the department of consumer affairs from Paytm and Reliance Jio wherein they have apologised for their inadvertent mistake," minister of state for consumer affairs CR Chaudhary said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
As per a report in TOI, the companies have submitted in their response to the consumer affairs ministry that they were unaware of seeking permission for using the Prime Minister's photograph.
The photograph was used in violation of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act. The irony is that this Act has a fine of only Rs 500 for any violation. According to Section-3 of the Act, no person shall use any "specified" name or emblem for any trade, business or any such activities without the "previous permission of the Central government" or officers authorised by the government.
The consumer affairs ministry has also informed the Rajya Sabha that based on its request I&B ministry has issued an advisory to print medium to check-up the permission authority from competent authority before issuing any advertisement wherein the emblem and names specified under the act are mentioned.
The PMO had initially rejected RTI queries on whether Reliance Jio was grated permission by the Centre for using the the PM's image. When a similar query was raised in the Parliament in December, minister of state for I&B Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore had told Parliament that no permission was granted to Jio.
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