Don't shut down 'Punjab Kesari' printing press, Supreme Court orders Punjab Government

In a relief to the Punjab Kesari newspaper group, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the Punjab Government not to take any coercive steps to shut down 'Punjab Kesari' printing press over alleged violation of environmental norms until a week after the Punjab and Haryana High Court decided the issue.

The Punjab State Pollution Control Board has ordered snapping power supply to the newspaper’s printing press for alleged violations of environmental norms.

“Newspapers cannot be stopped… Don't close the newspaper part. Hotels or other commercial establishments one can understand can be closed for a few days. But allow the newspaper (to function),” a Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant told Punjab Advocate General Maninderjit Singh Bedi who attended the proceedings via video conferencing.

“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 of Punjab Kesari newspaper shall continue to function uninterruptedly. However, with respect to the other commercial establishments, be it the hotel etc., status quo shall be maintained,” the top court ordered.

The interim order will continue even a week after the pronouncement of the judgment by the high court to enable the parties to seek appellate remedies, said the Bench – which also included Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi.

The order came after senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi mentioned an urgent petition filed by the newspaper group that the publication of some of its editions will be affected due to the decision of the state’s pollution control board to cut electricity supply to its printing press.

“Our newspaper should not stop because of an article published against the state government… Our press electricity will be disconnected,” Rohatgi said, seeking an urgent hearing.

“All this happened in a matter of two days because we published articles which are not favourable to the dispensation in Punjab… The press working for the last 20 years has been directed to be immediately closed over some alleged water pollution issue,” Rohatgi submitted.

Rohatgi said that after the newspaper published certain articles critical of the state government, various coercive actions were initiated against the newspaper management, including cutting off the electricity, notices by the Pollution Control Board against the press, shutting down of the hotels run by the newspaper owners, FIRs etc.

Stating that the matter was heard by the Punjab and Haryana High Court which reserved its verdict on Monday without giving interim relief, Rohatgi urged the top court to grant protection from closure of Punjab Kesari printing press until the high court decided the issues involved.

Bedi and Additional Advocate General Shadan Farasat submitted that all steps were taken by the state government strictly in accordance with the law and that the high court’s judgment was expected either today or tomorrow.

“The matter can certainly wait. The actions are exactly as per the book in terms of the pollution control law. They (Punjab Kesari) are making something else out of it. Whatever action was needed, it has already been taken; we are not going to take any further action,” Farasat said.

Farasat said that only one unit has been directed to be closed due to pollution issues, and it’s incorrect to say that the entire newspaper has been shut.

As Farasat alleged that liquor bottles were found in the press, Rohatgi countered him, saying, “Two bottles were found, and because of that you will close the newspaper.”