GIRIVARTHA Vs. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner is before this Court seeking for issue of mandamus to direct the second respondent to reinclude the name of 'Girivartha' in the media list as per the report of the District Media Committee, Chickmagalur dated 13.09.2013 as at Annexure -L to the petition. The petitioner is also seeking for issue of a direction to the second respondent to continue to place orders for publishing advertisements and also giving facilities under the SC/ST quota for the special advertisement.

(2.) THE petitioner claims that the newspaper having circulation in the district was included in the Media list. Since subsequently the name of the petitioner had been deleted, the petitioner had made applications seeking inclusion of the name. The petitioner is presently relying on the report of the District Media Committee dated 13.09.2013 to contend that the respondents have to take note of the same and include the name of the petitioner in the media list and also provide advertisement to the petitioner.

(3.) IN the light of the contention, a perusal of the petition papers would no doubt indicate that the committee through its meeting dated 13.09.2013 has recommended the consideration of the case of the petitioner since the committee had noticed the circulation of the newspaper during the last six months. Despite the same, what is necessary to be noticed is that the respondents have contended that the ownership prior to the same has not been established. Insofar as the petitioner is concerned, the contention in that regard is that since there was a fire accident, the documents were destroyed and therefore, the same could not be furnished.