Suddhashil Ghosh v. Rujira Banerjee And ORS

27.08.2025.

Item Nos. 16 to 18.

Court No. 13 ap M.A.T. No. 2297 of 2023 With I.A. No. CAN 1 of 2023 Banglar Barta

Versus

Rujira Banerjee & Ors.

With M.A.T. No. 2329 of 2023 With I.A. No. CAN 1 of 2023 Shri Manab Guha

Versus

Rujira Banerjee & Ors.

With M.A.T. No. 2330 of 2023 With I.A. No. CAN 1 of 2023 Suddhashil Ghosh

Versus

Rujira Banerjee & Ors.

Mr. Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya, ld. Sr. Adv.

Mr. Sudipta Dasgupta, Mr. Bikram Banerjee, Mr. Sutirtha Nayek, Ms. Singini Chakraborti, Mr. Baibhav Roy.

...For the appellants in MAT 2297 of 2023.

Mr. Pratik Majumder, Mr. S. Dey.

..For the appellants in MAT 2329 of 2023 & MAT 2330 of 2023.

Mr. Rajarshi Basu, Mr. K. M. Hossain.

...For the State in MAT 2297 of 2023.

Mr. Soumen Mohanty, Mr. Ayan Poddar, Mr. Agnish Basu.

...For the respondent no.1/writ petitioner.

Mr. Debjani Ray, Mr. S. Biswas.

...For the respondent no.5 in MAT 2297 of 2023.

1. These appeals are directed against an interim order dated 17th October, 2023 passed by a learned Single Judge of this Court in W.P.A No. 22990 of 2023.

2.

The said writ petition was argued over a number of days by the Counsel for the respective parties even at the interim stage. The impugned order has the effect of regulating the Media, and publication of materials by the Media.

3.

Admittedly, the print and electronic media are already under the control and guidance of the Central Government either under various Statutes or under the Guidelines issued by the Central and State Government and/or the Press Council of India and other bodies.

4.

There are also a dispute resolution mechanism under various Statutes as well as the Press Council of India.

5.

The directions on the Investigating Agency also appear to be indirectly aimed at the print and electronic media.

6.

However, since the Single Judge of this Court was of the view that the interim direction was warranted, this Court at this stage is not inclined to interfere with the same.

7.

It is submitted by the Counsel for the writ petitioner that interim order dated 17th October, 2023 has been confirmed until disposal of the writ petition. 8.

The aforesaid may dissuade the writ petitioner from taking up the matter for final hearing since she is enjoying an unlimited interim order.

9.

In that view of the matter, this Court directs that the said order dated 17th October, 2023 shall only continue upto 15th November, 2025. The parties may mention the writ petition for final hearing before the learned Single Judge of this Court, having determination in the matter.

10.

Given the tenor of the aforesaid order, the learned Single Judge of this Court is requested to, subject to its business permitting, take up the writ petition for final hearing at an early date.

11.

It is made clear that all issues are kept open for being argued before the learned Single Judge of this Court irrespective of the views taken by the learned Single Judge in the impugned order dated 17th October, 2023 or this Court in these appeals. 12.

With the aforesaid directions, all these appeals are disposed of.

13.

In view of disposal of these appeals, all the connected applications are also disposed of.

14.

There will be no order as to costs.

15.

All parties are directed to act on a server copy of this order duly downloaded from the official website of this Court.

(Rajasekhar Mantha, J.) (Ajay Kumar Gupta, J.)