The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice in a plea filed by Ushodaya Publications, which owns the leading Telugu daily “Eenadu,” challenging the Government Order (GO) allegedly aimed at increasing sales of “Sakshi” newspaper (allegedly owned and controlled by Andhra Pradesh CM) to all village and ward secretariats.
The petitioner has approached the Supreme Court in response to an Andhra Pradesh High Court decision that refused to quash the GO in question. A bench of Justices led by CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice JB Pardiwala heard the case.
The petitioner had initially approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court, requesting an ex parte ad interim order suspending or staying the execution of the challenged GO. The GO in question sanctioned Rs.200/- per month from State funds as additional financial support for each Gram Volunteer/Ward Volunteer to purchase one widely circulated Telugu newspaper, which provides them with more knowledge and awareness on contemporary issues, as well as information on Government schemes. While rejecting the stay petition, the Andhra Pradesh High Court stated that there was no evidence that the GO ordered Gram Volunteers/Ward Volunteers and Village Secretariats/Ward Secretariats to subscribe to “Sakshi.”
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Ushodaya Publications before the Supreme Court, stated that the subscription fee for “Sakshi” was Rs.176.50 per month. The monthly fee for “Eenadu” was Rs.207.50. Thus, the government purposefully set the additional grant of Rs.200/- per month to match the monthly subscription charges of “Sakshi” in order to help the newspaper expand beyond the circulation of “Eenadu,” the petitioner’s newspaper.
“Everyone who supports the government receives Rs 200. It is a breach of Article 19(1)(a),” he stated.
Rohatgi also contended that Andhra Pradesh CM, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy owned “Sakshi” and thus wished to increase its sale. He further stated that Reddy intended to attack “Eenadu” in order to settle his score with Opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu.
“The government has also said that Eenadu is yellow journalism and that you should not go for it. This is government propaganda! See the comments of the CM. He is engaged in a running fight with his opponent, Chandrababu. I’m not concerned because I’ve been running for 75 years. He claims that Eenadu is yellow journalism and a front for Chandrababu,” Rohatgi stated.
The court issued a notice in the case, making it returnable on April 10, 2023.
