Manjunadha Naidu, S/ O Venkatesh Naidu, v. The Press Registrar .And Head Of The Department,

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR WRIT PETITION No.8740 of 2016 ORDER:

The grievance of the petitioner in this case is that the District Collector, Anantapur District, failed to take necessary action upon the representation dated 05.11.2015. Under the said representation, the petitioner sought necessary action to be taken against the fifth respondent herein, who is the publisher and editor of a Monthly Telugu Magazine by name Nandu Times.

2. It is the case of the petitioner that under Rule 16(1)(a) of the State and District Level Press Accreditation Committees and Media Accreditation Rules, 2005, notified by the Government of Andhra Pradesh in G.O.Ms.No.96, General Administration (I& PR.II) Department, dated 08.03.2006, the District Collector is entitled to suspend or withdraw the accreditation issued to any Media representative if it is found that such a representative was engaged in non-journalistic activity or conducts himself/herself in an unprofessional or undignified manner or uses his professional offices for unprofessional or unethical purpose. It is the allegation of the petitioner that the activities of the fifth respondent warrant action being taken against him under this Rule.

3. This Court does not intend to adjudicate any of the issues raised in this writ petition on merits. That being so, in the light of the order proposed to be passed, it is not necessary to put the fifth respondent on notice.

4. As the representation is pending consideration before the District Collector, Anantapur, this Court sees no purpose served in

entertaining this writ petition at this stage for adjudication as it is for the District Collector to apply his mind to the said representation and take appropriate action thereon, if warranted.

5. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of directing the District Collector, Anantapur District, to consider the petitioner's representation dated 05.11.2015 in accordance with the Rules and take appropriate action thereon, if warranted. In the course of such exercise, the District Collector, Anantapur, is bound to give due notice and opportunity of hearing to the fifth respondent to rebut the allegations leveled against him by the petitioner. This exercise shall be completed expeditiously and in any event, not later than eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed in the light of this final order. No order as to costs. ________________________________ JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR March 17, 2016 PGS/LMV