NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on January 20 restrained the Punjab government from taking any coercive action that could disrupt the publication of the Punjab Kesari newspaper after the media group alleged that it was being selectively targeted by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led State Government over unfavourable reportage.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, and comprising justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, passed the interim order after an urgent mentioning by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Punjab Kesari Group.
The Supreme Court granted interim relief to the newspaper Punjab Kesari, allowing it to resume operations of its printing press, which authorities in Punjab had shut down, allegedly over the publication of articles against the State’s dispensation.
The interim protection was granted to Punjab Kesari by a bench led by CJI Surya Kant on an urgent mentioning by Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who represented the newspaper. Rohatgi argued that within a couple of days, the State authorities had cut off electricity, shut off the newspaper, filed FIRs against the management and closed down a hotel owned by the Punjab Kesari group.
Rohatgi informed the apex court that the Punjab and Haryana High Court has reserved its judgment on the matter, and until then, the newspaper must be protected from further action and allowed to continue publishing news.
After hearing the parties briefly, CJI Kant opined that the newspaper must not be shut until the High Court’s decision on the issue is pronounced and for another week, so that any aggrieved party could approach the right forum:
“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. This interim arrangement is made till the pronouncement of the judgment of the High Court and one week more to enable the aggrieved party to approach the appropriate forum”, it said.
The bench also repeatedly questioned the justification for any action that impacted newspaper publication. “Hotel is fine, but why the newspaper should be shut?” the CJI asked. When told that only one unit was closed, the bench responded: “Do not close down the newspaper. Hotels can remain shut, but why the newspaper should be?”
The Punjab Kesari Group has alleged a “targeted witch-hunt” by the Punjab government, claiming that a spate of inspections, raids and regulatory actions against its newspapers and associated businesses were aimed at intimidating the press.
In letters addressed to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Governor Gulab Chand Kataria last week, the group claimed the actions followed a report published on October 31, 2025, which carried opposition allegations against the AAP’s national leadership. It said government advertisements to the group were stopped from November 2, 2025.
The group cited inspections and raids between January 11 and 15 by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, GST, and excise departments at a Jalandhar hotel run by Chopra Hotels Private Limited, along with inspections by the Factories Department at printing presses in Ludhiana and Jalandhar, and actions by the Punjab Pollution Control Board at hotels and press units.
It flagged heavy police deployment outside printing presses in Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Bathinda, expressing apprehension that newspaper operations could be disrupted.
The Punjab government has rejected the allegations, describing them as a “vendetta narrative”.
Opposition parties rallied around the Punjab Kesari Group. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said on X that the allegations of a targeted witch-hunt were “deeply disturbing” and struck at the backbone of democracy. BJP state president Sunil Jakhar also expressed solidarity with the newspaper group.
