The Andhra Pradesh High Court, on Thursday, issued interim orders staying the GO 2097 issued on 9 May - a GO which withheld the release of advertisements and notifications from all government departments and agencies to Jagati Publications, publisher of Sakshi newspaper, and Indira TV, the owner of Sakshi TV.
Taking a serious note on the orders, the court, while staying the GO, directed the state government to file its counter petition by 16 June. The court also kept the GO under suspension till the government files its counter petition.
The court opined that the government order violates Article 14 of the Constitution. It sought to know how the government could stop advertisements to the newspaper without hearing the case.
Earlier, the petitioners contended that the action of the government was illegal, and that it was in violation of the Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution.
They said that Jagati Publication is facing a probe for allegedly securing investments from various individuals and companies as a measure of quid pro quo for the favours allegedly made by the YSR government from 2004 to 2009.
The petitioners pointed out that no allegations were framed against Jagati Publications as a corporate entity. The court also adjourned the hearing on the CBI's seizing of bank accounts of Sakshi, to 22 May.
The court, while adjourning the hearing, directed the CBI to file its counter petition on why it froze Sakshi's bank accounts. (INN)
filed in:Andhra Pradesh High Court, Sakshi, Sakshi TV, Newspapers