New Delhi: The controversial "India Shining" advertising campaign was today (Feb 25, 2004) challenged in the Delhi High Court in two public interest litigations (PIL) which sought a ban on it and a direction to the Centre to submit a "full and proper" statement of accounts on the funds spent on it.

The PILs, filed by Unemployed Youth Unity Movement and Advocate Chanchal Thakur, alleged that the campaign was being "used" by the ruling party to project its image ahead of elections.

The petitioners requested the Court to issue notices to the Centre, Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Planning Commission, Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity, Election Commission and Comptroller and Auditor General.

However, without issuing any notices to the respondents, a Division Bench of Justice B C Patel and Justice B D Ahmed asked the Election Commission to place the relevant material before it and posted the matter for hearing on March 3, 2004.