A.G. PONNMANICKAVEL Vs. MR.S. SEKARAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Court took suo-motu cognizance to review the order dtd. 19/8/2021 passed in W.P.No.32091 of 2019. It is when the learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the official respondents informed that a direction for constitution of the Press Council of Tamil Nadu by the State Government is not sustainable. It is also that the prayer in the said Writ Petition was not for a direction to the respondents to constitute the Press Council of Tamil Nadu, but for the consideration of the representation, dtd. 26/9/2019 and direct the second respondent to investigate the case by forming a team in regard to the allegations of theft of idol. Instead of giving a direction as prayed for in the Writ Petition, a Division Bench has issued direction for constitution of the Press Council of Tamil Nadu, which was not the subject matter or the prayer of the Writ Petitioner. A joint prayer has been made by all the counsel to recall the said order and hear the writ petitioners afresh. This Court finds that the joint prayer is made by the learned counsel appearing for the parties to recall the said order, is justified, because, the direction given by the Division Bench in that order, dtd. 19/8/2021 in W.P.No.32091 of 2019, was not even prayed for in the Writ Petition, rather, the subject matter therein was altogether different than the direction finally given by this Court. Accordingly, the common order dtd. 19/8/2021 passed in W.P.No.32091 of 2019 and W.P.No.31647 of 2019, is recalled. The suo-motu review is allowed. It is however with a direction to re-hear both the Writ Petitions afresh. Accordingly, Registry is directed to restore the Writ Petitions in W.P.Nos.32091 of 2019 and 31647 of 2019 to original file and list the said Writ Petitions before this Court on 30/3/2022. In view of the recalling of the said common order, dtd. 19/8/2021, as prayed for by the learned counsel, the Review Application in Rev.A.No.175 of 2021 is dismissed as withdrawn. No costs. Registry is directed to list W.P.No.32091 of 2019 along with W.P.No.31647 of 2019 for hearing afresh on 30/3/2022.