The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the authorities in Punjab to allow media group Punjab Kesari to resume its printing press at Ludhiana. .The printing press was shut down on the orders of Punjab Pollution Control Board. The media group, which publishes the highest circulating Hindi and Punjabi dailies in Punjab, has accused the Aam Aadmi Party-led State government of targeted harassment in recent weeks. A hotel run by the media group was also shut recently on the orders of the Pollution Board..Today, a Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and VM Pancholi ordered restoration of operations of the printing press after the plea filed by Jagat Vijay Printers and Hind Samachar Limited was mentioned for an urgent hearing. Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi and Advocate Mahesh Agarwal made the mentioning at 10:30 AM. The Bench was told that the actions against the media group were being taken as the newspaper had published reports questioning the government.The Court took the matter immediately on board and ordered that the printing press shall operate uninterruptedly. However, it clarified that a status quo shall be maintained at the hotel."Without prejudice to the rights of both sides, and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, it is directed that the printing press re: publication of newspaper (Punjab Kesari) shall continue to function uninterruptedly. However, qua the other commercial establishments, including the hotel, the status quo, as it exists today, shall be maintained by the parties," the Court ordered..The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday had reserved its decision on similar petitions moved by the media group against closure of its hotel and printing press. However, the Bench led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu had expressed a disinclination to grant any relief to the newspaper group and urged it to instead approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT).The interim relief granted today by the top court will operate for a week after the pronouncement of verdict by the High Court. "This interim arrangement is made till the pronouncement of the judgment by the High Court, and shall remain effective for one week thereafter, in order to enable the aggrieved party to approach the appropriate forum," the Court ordered..The newspaper group today argued that the High Court's failure to grant the interim relief while reserving the judgment, despite a strong prima facie case, has resulted in a chilling effect on free speech."Pertinently, the Press Closure Orders were passed on the very date of inspection and sample collection i.e. 15.01.2026, without even awaiting the reports on purported samples collected or granting any opportunity of hearing to the Petitioners. In passing the Press Closure order the principles of natural justice have been given a complete go by and the statutory rules including Rule 32 of the Punjab Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Rules, 1977, Rule 4 of the Environment Protection Rules have been blatantly disregarded," it said..Further, the media group alleged that the actions against it were triggered by news reports concerning AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal."Thereafter, several reports critical of the Government of the day were published in discharge of the constitutional role of the press as the fourth pillar of democracy. Similar reports were also carried by other newspapers in the State," the Court was told..The media group publishes the newspapers Punjab Kesari, Jag Bani, and Hind Samachar. According to the plea before the top court, the State government has stopped placing its advertisements in these newspapers, an action that will disrupt the group’s revenue stream..Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi and Advocate Mahesh Agarwal appeared for the petitioners.Advocate General Maninderjit Singh Bedi and Additional Advocate General Shadan Farasat with Advocate Karan Sharma appeared for the State..[Read Order].Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.
