Supreme Court Shields Punjab Kesari Presses, Bars Punjab Govt from Disrupting Operations

Delhi: The Supreme Court stepped in to protect the functioning of the Punjab Kesari newspaper group, issuing interim directions to the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government not to take any coercive action that could halt the publication of the daily. The top court made it clear that the newspaper’s printing presses must continue to function without interruption, even as allegations of pollution norm violations are examined separately.

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant took up the matter after the Punjab Kesari Group approached the court seeking urgent relief. The newspaper argued that its ability to publish multiple editions was under immediate threat due to possible electricity disconnections to its printing facilities.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the media house, flagged the urgency before the bench, stating that any disruption in power supply would effectively paralyse the newspaper’s operations. He contended that the actions initiated by the state authorities were not routine regulatory measures but appeared to be retaliatory in nature following the publication of content critical of the ruling establishment.

According to the submissions, soon after a report questioning the government was published, the group allegedly faced a series of actions, including power-related threats to its presses, closure of hotels linked to its promoters, and the registration of multiple FIRs. These developments, the newspaper claimed, were part of a pattern intended to exert pressure and silence dissent.

Rohatgi also informed the court that while the Punjab and Haryana High Court had already heard the matter and reserved its judgment, it had not granted any interim protection, leaving the newspaper vulnerable to immediate administrative action.

After hearing the arguments, the Supreme Court directed that, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the dispute, the status quo must be maintained. The court ordered that the printing presses of Punjab Kesari should continue to operate uninterruptedly and that no forceful steps should be taken against its other properties for the time being.

On behalf of the Punjab government, counsel argued that the measures taken were based on violations of pollution control regulations and denied any political motive behind the actions.

The Punjab Kesari Group, however, has consistently rejected this claim, alleging a “targeted witch-hunt” by the state administration. In earlier representations to Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the group claimed that raids by state agencies began shortly after it published a report on October 31, 2025, related to opposition allegations against the ruling party’s national leadership. The group also alleged that government advertisements to its publications were abruptly stopped from November 2, 2025.

Delhi: The Supreme Court stepped in to protect the functioning of the Punjab Kesari newspaper group, issuing interim directions to the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government not to take any coercive action that could halt the publication of the daily. The top court made it clear that the newspaper’s printing presses must continue to function without interruption, even as allegations of pollution norm violations are examined separately.

A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant took up the matter after the Punjab Kesari Group approached the court seeking urgent relief. The newspaper argued that its ability to publish multiple editions was under immediate threat due to possible electricity disconnections to its printing facilities.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing the media house, flagged the urgency before the bench, stating that any disruption in power supply would effectively paralyse the newspaper’s operations. He contended that the actions initiated by the state authorities were not routine regulatory measures but appeared to be retaliatory in nature following the publication of content critical of the ruling establishment.

According to the submissions, soon after a report questioning the government was published, the group allegedly faced a series of actions, including power-related threats to its presses, closure of hotels linked to its promoters, and the registration of multiple FIRs. These developments, the newspaper claimed, were part of a pattern intended to exert pressure and silence dissent.

Rohatgi also informed the court that while the Punjab and Haryana High Court had already heard the matter and reserved its judgment, it had not granted any interim protection, leaving the newspaper vulnerable to immediate administrative action.

After hearing the arguments, the Supreme Court directed that, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the dispute, the status quo must be maintained. The court ordered that the printing presses of Punjab Kesari should continue to operate uninterruptedly and that no forceful steps should be taken against its other properties for the time being.

On behalf of the Punjab government, counsel argued that the measures taken were based on violations of pollution control regulations and denied any political motive behind the actions.

The Punjab Kesari Group, however, has consistently rejected this claim, alleging a “targeted witch-hunt” by the state administration. In earlier representations to Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the group claimed that raids by state agencies began shortly after it published a report on October 31, 2025, related to opposition allegations against the ruling party’s national leadership. The group also alleged that government advertisements to its publications were abruptly stopped from November 2, 2025.