Mr. Sobitham v. The Press Registrar

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED: 11.06.2024 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE DR.JUSTICE ANITA SUMANTH Sobitham .. Petitioner vs 1.The Press Registrar, Section Officer (Dak Counter) Registrar of Newspapers for India, Ministry of Information & Broadcastings, Soochana Bhavan, 9th Floor, CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi-110 003.

2.The Section Officer, Press Section, Egmore Combined Court Building, 2nd Floor, Egmore, Chennai-600 002.

.. Respondents Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying to issue a writ of Mandamus directing the respondents to consider the application/ Form of declaration of the petitioner dated 15.05.2023 and the subsequent representations of the petitioner dated 28.06.2023 & 21.08.2023 to grant the approval for running the magazine "ZION MALAI" in the name of the petitioner's herein at 431/136, TH Road, Thondiyarpet, Chennai 600 081. For Petitioner :

Mr.P.Prakash Paul For Respondents :

Mr.R.Rajesh Vivekananthan (for R1) Deputy Solicitor General R2 - Court

ORDER

The petitioner seeks a mandamus directing the respondents to consider application / form of declaration of the petitioner and his subsequent representations for grant of approval for running the 1/4

magazine 'Zion Malai' in the name of the petitioner. 2.

Mr.R.Rajesh Vivekananthan, learned Deputy Solicitor General, appearing on behalf of R1 has filed a counter along with a compilation of documents. The stand of the respondent is that while they have no objection to consider petitioner's application, the application has been kept pending for want of certain details necessary for its processing. In this regard, a discrepancy letter has been sent on 25.09.2023 seeking various particulars.

3.

While the respondent counsel has submitted that there has been no compliance by the petitioner, (he refers to case instructions dated 06.06.2024 received from the Deputy Press Registrar General), the petitioner states, albeit tentatively, that there has been proper response on its part and that the necessary documents have been resubmitted. This is a question of fact. In any event, no proof of compliance is placed before this Court.

4.

For the aforesaid reasons, I would only grant liberty to the petitioner to comply with the discrepancy letter at its earliest. Upon such compliance, let the respondents issue notice to the petitioner, hear him and process the application, in accordance with law and applicable rules and regulations.

5.

Writ petition stands disposed in terms of this order. No costs.

11.06.2024 Index:Yes/No 2/4

ssm To 1.The Press Registrar, Section Officer (Dak Counter) Registrar of Newspapers for India, Ministry of Information & Broadcastings, Soochana Bhavan, 9th Floor, CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi-110 003.

2.The Section Officer, Press Section, Egmore Combined Court Building, 2nd Floor, Egmore, Chennai-600 002.

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DR. ANITA SUMANTH,J.

ssm 11.06.2024 4/4