HC stays GO stopping advertisements to Sakshi

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HYDERABAD: Jagan companies earned a major relief as the High Court on Thursday stayed operation of the impugned government order (..

HYDERABAD: Jagan companies earned a major relief as the High Court on Thursday stayed operation of the impugned government order (GO 2097 dated May 9, 2012) stopping ads to Sakshi newspaper and TV channel.The court directed the government and the CBI to file counter affidavits and posted the matter for hearing to June 16.On another petition filed by Jagan’s companies challenging dismissal of a plea for de-freezing of bank accounts, the High Court posted the case for hearing to May 22.Justice B Chandra Kumar asked the petitioners to submit details of the company’s revenues and working staff before the court on May 22.Vacation judge justice B Seshasayana Reddy, while staying the GO, said he agreed with the issues raised by the petitioners that stoppage of ads to the media house would affect its income.He observed that the GO was contrary to the guidelines framed under GO 403 for release of ads to newspapers.He also pointed out there was no bar under GO 403 for release of advertisements to newspapers facing criminal charges.Petitioners’ counsels DV Sitaramamurthy and S Sriram said the government order violateed Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution and stressed the need for restoration of ads to the Sakshi media house. Sriram argued that Jagan Mohan Reddy had no relation with Jagati Publications and had no stake in it.Moreover, Indira Television was not an accused in the charge sheet filed by the CBI, he said.“Ads are the life blood for a free media house”, Sitaramamurthy said.Additional advocate-General KG Krishnamurthy argued that the government’s refusal to release commercial ads did not amount to violation of Article 19 (1)(a) and that it was only a temporary measure and the government would continue to issue ads if the investigation revealed there was no case against the company.The probe revealed that the companies owned by the Kadapa MP had received investments from the firms which received favours under quid pro quo during YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s tenure.The judge asked the additional AG on what basis the ads were stopped.