M.Sathesh Kumar v. The Press Registrar General Of India
BEFORE THE MADURAI BENCH OF MADRAS HIGH COURT DATED : 11.06.2026
CORAM:
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY and W.M.P.(MD)No.10623 of 2026 M.Sathesh Kumar ... Petitioner -vs1.The Press Registrar General of India, Office of Press Registrar General of India, 9th Floor, Soochna Bhawan, Near CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110 003.
2.M.Poongothai 3.Ramesh Kumar ... Respondents PRAYER: Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, to issue a Writ of Mandamus, Mandamus a) directing the 1st respondent to stop the 2nd and 3rd respondents from printing and publishing in both physical and digital platform the Tamil Daily Thina Boomi and Athirstam in all its edition i.e Chennai, Madurai, Thiruchirapalli Tirunelveli, Salem, Vellore and Coimbatore and Puducherry in the name of petitioner's late father Manimaran describing him as the owner, editor, printer and publisher forthwith
b) forbearing the 1st respondent from transfer of ownership of the title and the status as printer, publisher and editor of the Tamil Daily Thina Boomi and Athirstam in favour of the 2nd respondent or anyone claiming through the 2nd respondent in all its edition i.e., Chennai, Madurai, Thiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli, Salem, Vellore and Coimbatore and Puducherry. For Petitioner : Mr.D.Prabhu Mukunth Arun Kumar For R1 : Mr.T.Saroja Central Government Standing Counsel For R2 and R3 : Mr.A.Rajasekaran
ORDER
The writ petition has been filed seeking a direction to the first respondent, namely, the Press Registrar General of India, to restrain the respondents 2 and 3 from printing and publishing, in both physical and digital form, the Tamil dailies 'Thina Boomi' and 'Athirstam' in various editions, in the name of the late father of the petitioner, namely, Manimaran, describing him as the owner, editor, printer and publisher. A further consequential relief is sought to forbear any transfer of ownership, title, or the status of printer, publisher and editor in respect of the said publications.
2. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner's father was originally the owner, printer, publisher and editor of the said Tamil dailies. It is stated that he died on 14.10.2024. Even thereafter, the publications are being continued in the name of the deceased person by showing him as the publisher, despite disputes having arisen between the legal heirs. It is submitted that the petitioner, namely M.Sathesh Kumar, has filed O.S.No.50 of 2026 on the file of the District Court, Madurai, seeking partition of the properties described in the schedule thereto, which includes the business of printing and publishing the newspapers in question. It is further submitted that the second respondent, namely, M.Poongothai, the mother of the petitioner, has also instituted O.S.No.
96 of 2026 on the file of the I Additional District Munsif Court, Madurai, and the same is pending adjudication. It is stated that though the petitioner had earlier given consent for transfer of ownership and change of name in favour of the mother, the said consent was subsequently withdrawn.
3. The learned Standing Counsel appearing for the first respondent would submit that she has not yet received instructions and seeks time to obtain the same.
4. The learned counsel appearing for the respondents 2 and 3 would submit that, based on the earlier consent given by the petitioner, an application had been submitted seeking effect of transfer. Since the same was rejected with a direction to file separate applications, fresh applications have already been submitted. It is further submitted that, in the interregnum, the publications are being continued in the name of the deceased proprietor.
5. I have considered the rival submissions made on either side and perused the materials available on record.
6. It is not in dispute that the publications, namely 'Thina Boomi' and 'Athirstam', are governed by the provisions of the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023 [hereinafter referred to as ''the Act'']. Section 7 of the Act mandates that no periodical shall be published in India except upon registration in accordance with law. The Act also defines the expressions "owner", "publisher", "printer" and other relevant terms.
7. Admittedly, late Manimaran was the registered owner and publisher of the said publications. Upon his demise, the rights and interests in respect of the publications are required to be dealt with by the legal heirs, namely, the petitioner and the respondents 2 and 3. In the event of death of the registered proprietor, the legal heirs are required to make an appropriate application under Section 8 of the Act for revision of the particulars in the original registration.
8. In the present case, there exists a serious inter se dispute between the parties, which is also the subject matter of pending civil suits. In such circumstances, the appropriate course would be for the parties to have their respective claims adjudicated in the civil proceedings. If ultimately the properties, including the business concern, are allotted jointly, the registration may continue in joint names. If, on the other hand, it is allotted exclusively to any one of the parties, consequential changes in the registration may be effected in accordance with law.
9. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is willing to sign a joint application, if so required. In view of the fact that an online
application is already stated to have been filed, the first respondent is directed to issue notice to the petitioner as well as the respondents 2 and 3 and conduct an enquiry in accordance with Section 8 of the Act.
10. During such enquiry, it shall be open to the parties to express their consent or objections, including the possibility of continuing the registration in joint names, subject to the actual conduct of business by the parties concerned. The entire exercise shall be subject to the outcome of the civil suits pending between the parties, as well as any interim orders that may be passed therein. The parties shall also be at liberty to approach the Civil Court for appropriate interim reliefs with respect to the management and conduct of the publications, and they shall be bound by such orders.
11. The first respondent shall complete the enquiry and effect necessary changes in the registration, within a period of two months from today. It is made clear that in the event of non-cooperation by any of the parties or failure to reach a consensus, it is open to the first respondent to proceed in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the Rules, as publication of a periodical in the name of a deceased person cannot be permitted to continue indefinitely.
12. The writ petition stands disposed of on the above terms. No costs. Consequently, the connected Miscellaneous Petition is closed. 11.06.2026 NCC : No smn2 To:- The Press Registrar General of India, Office of Press Registrar General of India, 9th Floor, Soochna Bhawan, Near CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi - 110 003.
D.BHARATHA CHAKRAVARTHY , J.
smn2 11.06.2026