Whalesbook
Court Examines Ad Cut Order
The High Court emphasized that administrative orders must uphold the independence of the press. Justice Vivek Saran and Justice Ajit Kumar stated that any "dictatorial order" would "certainly be infringing upon the autonomy of the Fourth (Estate)," referring to the media. This crucial observation came as the bench considered a petition by Amar Ujala Limited, challenging a District Magistrate's order from October 15, 2025. The petitioner alleged this order unjustly halted government advertisements following a news report concerning a Gurudwara dispute.
Amar Ujala Challenges Ad Withholding
Amar Ujala argued that the District Magistrate's action was discriminatory and overstepped the district administration's authority, particularly as the newspaper had already published a corrigendum on September 18, 2025, clarifying the earlier report. The court acknowledged that the controversy had largely lost significance after the newspaper complied with a September 16, 2025, order from the Divisional Commissioner by issuing the correction. The bench noted that "trivial issues" should not lead to actions that compromise media independence.
Court Directs Next Steps
The court highlighted that appropriate legal avenues exist for authorities if they have grievances against a publisher. The State informed the court that a notice had been issued to Amar Ujala on December 17, 2025, seeking an explanation. Taking this into account, the High Court directed the newspaper to file a fresh application before the District Magistrate within two weeks. The Magistrate was further instructed to pass a reasoned order within one week thereafter, specifically considering the September 18, 2025, corrigendum. The petition was subsequently closed.