Supreme Court issues notice in the plea challenging the Government order to improve sales of the ‘Sakshi’ newspaper

On March 29, a notice was issued by the Supreme Court regarding a plea challenging the Government order purportedly aimed to improve sales of the ‘Sakshi’ newspaper to all the ward and village secretariats. Sakshi newspaper was owned and controlled by the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh (YS Jagan Mohan Reddy). The petitioner, Ushodaya publications (which owns the Telugu daily ‘Eenadu’), approached the Supreme Court against the Andra Pradesh High Court’s order that refused to quash the government order. The Government order in question sanctioned 200 rupees per month from the state funds as additional financial support for ward or village volunteer to enable them to purchase the ‘Sakshi’ newspaper. 

Initially, the petitioner approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court but the plea to stay the Government order was rejected. AP HC highlighted that there was no appropriate material or evidence that ensured the Government order instructed the village/ ward secretariats to subscribe ‘Sakshi’ newspaper. The order delivered by HC stated that “The circulation figures are only data released by ABC, which the petitioners themselves have relied on in the past and there are also pleadings in the writ petition according credibility to the circulation data released by ABC. Thus, it cannot be resumed at this stage that the affairs of ABC can be manipulated. If the GO issued by the Government of AP has eventually increased the subscription of one or the other newspaper and the same may be used by ABC for releasing such data only because a particular newspaper has been purchased by volunteers and village/ward secretariats by using the funds provided by the State government, more so when there is no material showing that the State Government has ever directed any of such subscribers to subscribe to a particular newspaper.”

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Eenadu then approached the Supreme Court against the AP HC's order. During the hearing, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi (for Ushodaya Publications) submitted that Rs. 176.50 per month and Rs. 207.50 per month were the subscription charges of ‘Sakshi’ and ‘Eenadu’ respectively. He further contended that the Government purposely fixed Rs. 200 per month as an additional grant to suit the monthly subscription charges of ‘Sakshi’ to grow the newspaper over and above the petitioner’s newspaper, ‘Eenadu’. Senior Advocate further added, “All those who support the government get Rs. 200. It’s a violation of Article 19(1)(a).” Also, he argued that “The government has also said that Eenadu is yellow journalism and don’t go for it. This is State Propaganda! See the CM’s remarks…He has a running battle with Chandrababu, his opposition. I am not concerned, I’ve been running for 75 years…He is saying Eenadu is yellow journalism, it’s front for Chandrababu.” After hearing the submissions, the Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice JB Pardiwala issued a notice and made it returnable on April 10, 2023.

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