In a temporary decision, the Supreme Court has instructed the Punjab government not to take coercive actions against the Punjab Kesari newspaper group. The court has allowed the printing press to continue operating without interruptions, despite the pending verdict from the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the newspaper management, highlighted that punitive measures were taken against the media group after they published articles critical of the state government. These actions included cutting off electricity, issuing notices from the Punjab Pollution Control Board, closing the printing press, sealing group-owned hotels, and filing FIRs within a span of two days.
The Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, leading the bench, emphasized the importance of allowing the printing press to function and ordered the same. However, the status quo will be maintained for other commercial establishments of the group, such as hotels, until further notice. The Supreme Court specified that the printing press of Punjab Kesari newspaper should continue its operations uninterruptedly until the Punjab and Haryana High Court delivers its final verdict.
The Additional Advocate General, Shadan Farasat, representing the state government, defended the actions taken, stating they were lawful. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had reserved its judgment on similar petitions filed by the newspaper group. The court clarified that while one unit was ordered to be closed, the newspaper itself should not face closure, allowing it to continue its operations.
