National/ Punjab Desk
Tv10 Punjab
20 January
The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave interim relief to the Punjab Kesari newspaper group by allowing its printing presses to continue functioning, despite the Punjab State Pollution Control Board’s decision to cut electricity supply over alleged violations. The top court said the presses can operate without interruption until the Punjab and Haryana High Court delivers its verdict on the matter, and for one additional week after that.
A bench of the Supreme Court passed the order after hearing urgent submissions from senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the newspaper group. He argued that an entire newspaper should not be shut down due to a single article and claimed that the electricity supply to the printing presses was cut following the publication of a report critical of the current Punjab government. Rohatgi also stated that FIRs had been lodged against the owners and their hotels had been closed.
He informed the court that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had already heard the petition and reserved its judgment but had not granted any interim relief. Considering the situation, the Supreme Court directed that the printing presses of Punjab Kesari should continue operating without hindrance.
It clarified that the order was passed without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case.
Meanwhile, the counsel representing the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government maintained that the newspaper group had violated pollution control norms, which led to the action by authorities.