K.Ramasubbu v. The Chief Secretary

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 30.10.2025

CORAM

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE M.DHANDAPANI And W.M.P.No.22994 of 2023 And Contempt Petition No.1575 of 2023 W.P.No.23479 of 2023:

K.Ramasubbu ... Petitioner Vs.

1.The Chief Secretary, 2.The Director of Information and Public Relations & Ex-officio Joint Secretary to Government, 3.State of Tamil Nadu rep. by the Secretary to Government, Information and Public Relations Chennai.

... Respondents Prayer:

Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India to issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to release 1/6

advertisements to the petitioner's newspapers "Dinamalar" based on the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) Certificate. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Elambharathi For Respondents : Mr.R.Ramanlaal Additional Advocate General Assisted By Mr.S.J.Mohd. Sathik Government Advocate Contempt Petition No.1575 of 2023:

K.Ramasubbu ... Petitioner Vs.

Shiv Das Meena, The Chief Secretary, ... Respondent Prayer:

Petition filed under Sections 11 and 12 of Contempt Act, 1971 praying to punish the respondent for willful disobedience of the order of this Hon'ble Court dated 01.06.2017 made in W.P.No.6394 of 2017. For Petitioner : Mr.S.Elambharathi For Respondent : Mr.R.Ramanlaal Additional Advocate General Assisted By Mr.S.J.Mohamed Sathik Government Advocate 2/6

C O M M O N O R D E R The writ petition has been filed seeking issuance of Writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to release advertisements to the petitioner's newspapers "Dinamalar" based on the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) Certificate.

2.The contempt petition is filed alleging willful disobedience of the order dated 01.06.2017 made in W.P.No.6394 of 2017. 3.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner is the Editor of the Tamil Newspaper Dinamalar. The respondents have been releasing advertisements for the Government of Tamil Nadu to various Tamil and English Newspapers excluding the petitioner even though it is one of the accredited Newspaper of the Government of Tamil Nadu and the respondents have not followed any guidelines to release the advertisement and hence, the then editor filed W.P.No.6394 of 2017 seeking direction to the first respondent to frame guidelines/ qualifications in releasing advertisement to Newspapers on the basis of circulation and this Court vide order dated 01.06.2017 allowed the said writ petition and 3/6

directed the first respondent to frame guidelines/ qualifications for releasing advertisements to the Newspapers on the basis of circulation and other criteria and since the said order was not complied with, the petitioner filed contempt petition.

4.The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner further submitted that already this Court issued direction to the first respondent to frame guidelines/ qualifications for releasing advertisements to the Newspapers on the basis of circulation including the petitioner's Newspaper and hence this Court may issue direction to the respondents to follow Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) Certificate to release advertisements to the Newspapers including the petitioner's Newspaper Dinamalar without any discrimination. 5.The learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the respondents submitted that advertisements will be released to all the Newspapers including the petitioner's Newspaper by following Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) Certificate without any discrimination. 6.Recording the submission made by the learned Additional Advocate General, the writ petition as well as the contempt petition 4/6

are closed. This Court hope that the respondents will follow the procedure contemplated Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) Certificate for releasing the advertisements to all the Newspapers including the petitioner's Newspaper without any discrimination. 7.This Court on 04.06.2024 had issued direction to the respondents to draft a policy. If the policy has been drafted, it may be circulated to all the Newspapers including the petitioner's Newspaper, within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

8.The writ petition is closed.

No costs.

Consequently, connected miscellaneous petition is closed. The contempt petition is also closed.

30.10.2025 pri Index: Yes/ No Speaking Order: Yes/ No NCC: Yes/ No To 1.The Chief Secretary, 5/6

M.DHANDAPANI,J.

pri 2.The Director of Information and Public Relations & Ex-officio Joint Secretary to Government, 3.State of Tamil Nadu rep. by the Secretary to Government, Information and Public Relations Chennai.

And W.M.P.No.22994 of 2023 And Contempt Petition No.1575 of 2023 30.10.2025 6/6