Printing of Punjab Kesari Allowed to Continue, Status Quo for Other Commercial Establishments Maintained Until High Court Judgment
In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India, presided over by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, has granted interim relief to Jagat Vijay Printers LLP. The relief comes in response to a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the company following coercive actions taken by the Punjab State Pollution Control Board. The action had led to the partial closure of the company's hotel operations and its prominent newspaper publication, Punjab Kesari.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the petitioners, highlighted the urgent nature of the matter, citing the long-standing publication history of Punjab Kesari. The petition sought interim protection pending the judgment of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, where a writ petition on the matter had been filed and arguments concluded.
The Supreme Court, after hearing the submissions from both sides, including those from the Advocate General of Punjab, Mr. Maninderjit Singh Bedi, and Senior Advocate Shadan Farasat, ordered that the printing operations for Punjab Kesari should remain uninterrupted. However, the court maintained a status quo concerning other commercial establishments, including a hotel run by the petitioner.
The court emphasized that this interim relief is granted without prejudice to the rights of any party and is not an expression of opinion on the merits of the case. This arrangement will remain effective until the High Court delivers its judgment and for one week thereafter, allowing aggrieved parties sufficient time to approach the appropriate legal forum.
The Special Leave Petition was taken on board by the Supreme Court, subject to the rectification of any procedural defects. With this interim order, the Supreme Court has disposed of the SLP and any pending interlocutory applications associated with it.
Bottom Line:
Interim protection granted by the Supreme Court allowing uninterrupted functioning of a printing press for the publication of a newspaper, while maintaining status quo concerning other commercial establishments, pending judgment by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Statutory provision(s): Special Leave Petition.
Jagat Vijay Printers LLP v. State of Punjab, (SC) : Law Finder Doc id # 2845427
