Section 39A Allocation of equitable sharing of time - Representation of the People Act, 1951

What is the procedure for Allocation of equitable sharing of time? Section 39A of Representation of the People Act, 1951

Section 39A : Allocation of equitable sharing of time

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the Election Commission shall, on the basis of the past performance of a recognised political party, during elections, allocate equitable sharing of time on the cable television network and other electronic media in such manner as may be prescribed to display or propagate any election matter or to address public in connection with an election.

(2) The allocation of equitable sharing of time under sub-section (1), in respect of an election, shall be made after the publication of list of contesting candidates under section 38 for the election and shall be valid till forty-eight ours before the hour fixed for poll for such election.

(3) The allocation of equitable sharing of time under sub-section (1) shall be binding on all political parties concerned.

(4) The Election commission may, for the purpose of this section, make code of conduct for cable operators and electronic media and the cable operators and every person managing or responsible for the management of the electronic media shall abide by such code of conduct.

Explanation.-For the purposes of this section,-

(a) "electronic media" includes radio and any other broadcasting media notified by the Central Government in the Official gazette;

(b) "cable television network" and "cable operator" have the meanings respectively assigned to them under the cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 (7 of 1995).