NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Punjab Kesari to continue operating one of its printing presses which was closed by the state pollution control board, allegedly for publishing an adverse report against the state government.Seeking urgent remedy from a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi asked for a stay on the order to close the press and a hotel run by the group. For Punjab govt, advocate general Maninderjit Singh Bedi and additional AG Shadan Farasat said liquor bottles were found in the printing press while the hotel had violated the pollution law.The bench said while it wasn’t excessively concerned about the hotel, the printing press can’t be shut down.
Allow newspaper to function and take out editions, SC orders Punjab
Bedi said the newspaper had filed a writ petition before Punjab and Haryana HC, which heard the matter at length Monday and reserved its order. Rohatgi said the newspaper approached SC as the HC had refused to stay the closure of the printing press and the hotel at Jalandhar and Ludhiana.The bench said, “Don’t hamper publishing of the newspaper by closing one of its printing presses. Hotel being a commercial concern, we are not unduly bothered about it as law will take its course. Allow the newspaper to function and take out its editions.”When Farast reiterated that liquor bottles were found in the printing press, Rohatgi said the alleged recovery of two liquor bottles had led to the closure order. “The main reason ostensibly is the publication of a not favourable article in the newspaper,” he said.The bench allowed the printing press to continue operating while directing status quo with regard to the hotel.
