Surender Kumar v. Registrar Of News Paper Of India & ANR.

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI

+ W.P.(C) 12446/2022 SURENDER KUMAR .....Petitioner Through:

Petitioner in person.

versus REGISTRAR OF NEWS PAPER OF INDIA & ANR.

.....Respondents Through:

Mr. Rajesh Gogna, CGSC with Mr.

Nipun Jain and Ms. Priya Singh, Advocates with Mr. Prashant Rawat, G.P.

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA

O R D E R

% 24.10.2024 1.

The Petitioner had applied for registration of daily newspaper press with five proposed names. The said request was rejected by Section officer of Respondent No.1 through impugned communication dated 21st March, 2024 which reads as follows:- "This is to inform you that the proposed title/titles is/are not available as per RNI guidelines for Title Verification and/or in terms of proviso to section 6 of the PRB Act, 1867 as amended from time to time wherein it is stated that the newspaper proposed to be published should not bear a title which is the same as or similar to that of any other newspaper published either in the same language or in the same state. You may therefore, advice the applicant to suggest some other titles and forward the application through your office."

2.

In the above background, the Petitioner has filed the instant petition seeking following prayers:- "A) Issue a Writ, Order, or Direction in the nature of Mandamus to all The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

Respondents to issue, register and verify the Title of the News paper 'Loktantra Press' as it is still available for Registration without any objection.

B) Issue a Writ, Order, or Direction in the nature of Mandamus to all Respondents to pay the cost of litigations and expenses. C) Pass any other order(s) as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit and proper."

3.

It is clear from the aforenoted that the Petitioner is now seeking mandamus for registration of newspaper 'Loktantra Press'. The Petitioner's challenge to the Impugned communication is premised on his understanding that despite availability of the title 'Loktantra Press', the same has wrongly not been granted to the Petitioner.

4.

However, Mr. Rajesh Gogna, CGSC for Respondents, on instructions, states that 'Loktantra Express' under title code DELHIN16442 PNI Regd. No. DELHIN/2011/38261 is owned by Md. Nezamuddin, in Hindi daily. 5.

It is pertinent to note that the proviso to section 6 of the Press & Book Registration Act, 1867 makes it clear that the newspaper proposed to be published should not bear a title which is the same as or 'similar' to that of any other newspaper published either in the same language or in the same state.

6.

In light of the above, since the title 'Loktantra Express' is already registered, the request of the Petitioner to grant registration for 'Loktantra Press', which is similar to the title that is already registered, cannot be acceded to.

The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.

7.

In view of the above, the present petition is dismissed along with pending application(s), if any.

SANJEEV NARULA, J OCTOBER 24, 2024 mk The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.