REGISTRAR Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The news item published in daily newspaper 'Lokmat', in its issue dated 19th April, 2020 as well as an Article published in e-newspaper, 'The Hindu' under caption "Maharashtra allows printing but bans distribution of newspapers", prompts this Court to take cognizance of the issue involved in these news items. The news items refer to a notification signed by the Chief Secretary Shri Ajoy Mehta, issued on Saturday with a statement, "Print Media is hereby exempted from lock down from 20 th April, 2020". However, given the extent of the spread of COVID-19, door-to-door delivery of newspapers and magazines is prohibited. The news item published in newspaper daily 'Lokmat' refers to the same notification with certain statements of the Honourable Members of the Ministry who have shown their ignorance to the notification.

(2.) The news item published in newspaper 'The Hindu' then refers to the statement of the Honourable the Chief Minister and it reads, Mr Thackeray however said it was 'unnecessary confusion'. "While we support its operation and the need to reach out to the people, we want to also ensure the highest safety from a virus that the world is still grappling with. The sale of print media newspapers, magazines and production is allowed at stalls/shops already established, as deemed fit by the media houses. We urge the media to refrain from home deliveries," he said, in a statement issued on twitter.

(3.) This Court is aware of the unforeseen situation being faced by the world in general i.e. the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in general and India in particular. It is also not in dispute that the Central Government and the State Government are taking various steps/measures to deal with the situation. The issue raised in these articles is in respect of the notification signed by the Chief Secretary of the State of Maharashtra. It may not be out of place to state that though an attempt was made through the Registry of this Court to locate the said notification on the website of the State Government, the same was not available. A statement of the Honourable the Chief Minister though refers to a candid statement that the State Government supports operation and need of the newspaper to reach out to the people, there is hardly any logical explanation coming forward on the backdrop of the confusion i.e. on one hand the Chief Secretary states in the notification that print media is exempted from lock down from 20 th April, 2020, the Honourable the Chief Minister, in his statement states that the sale of print media newspapers, magazines and production is allowed at stalls/shops already established, as deemed fit by the media houses, on the other hand the door-to-door delivery of the newspapers is prohibited.