Resume ad to Rajasthan Patrika: SC to Raje govt
Our Correspondent
Jaipur, September 5
The Supreme Court has directed the Rajasthan Government to address concerns of leading daily Rajasthan Patrika and start allocating official advertisement to it.
A two-member Bench comprising Justice AK Sikri and DY Chandrachud passed this verbal order to the Rajasthan Government on Friday. The daily had claimed that both display and classified ads issued to it by the state had dipped to an all-time low in 2016, which was affecting its circulation.
“Declining advertisement is resulting in lowering of circulation. It is a fight for survival,” senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the daily, argued. Singhvi alleged the fall came in the wake of some critical articles against the state government. It was a “direct assault on the freedom of the Press,” he added. He demanded restoration of minimum of 35 per cent advertisement to the paper.
Additional Solicitor General PS Narasimha contested the daily’s contention, claiming the government was only correcting an imbalance in ad allocation. “They had no problems when they got unlimited patronage. But when the vested interest is broken, complaints are made of attacks on the freedom of Press,” he said.
Unlock Exclusive Insights with The Tribune Premium
Take your experience further with Premium access.
Thought-provoking Opinions, Expert Analysis, In-depth Insights and other Member Only Benefits
Already a Member? Sign In Now
