ATUL SHARMA Vs. STATE OF PUNJAB

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The instant petition has been instituted under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India, 1950 seeking issuance of a writ in the nature of Mandamus directing the respondents to issue Press Accreditation Card to the petitioner as the same is being denied to him without any cogent reasons.

(2.) Learned counsel for the petitioner contends that the petitioner is running a weekly newspaper by the name of 'Jalandhar Breeze' and is the Editor-in-chief of the above-named weekly newspaper. The Government of Punjab in order to grant accreditation to the media persons dealing with the news at different levels, formulated the Punjab Media Accreditation Rules, 2009 (for short 'Accreditation Rules). Rule 4 and Rule 5 of the Accreditation Rules lays down the procedure for issuing accreditation card to the newspersons/media representatives of different categories at various levels.

(3.) The petitioner being eligible was issued press accreditation card vide card No. PRJ-2021/4533 by respondent-Department. The said card was valid till 13/5/22. However, on the expiry of the said card, the petitioner had applied for the renewal of his press accreditation card. The application and supporting documents were submitted through e-mail dtd. 28/3/2022 as well by hand in the office of respondent-department. Further, the said application of the petitioner is pending since 11/9/2022 at the grievance portal yet the same remains unresolved till date and as per the details available online no action has been taken on the same except comments dtd. 18/10/2022 and 28/10/221 wherein it is mentioned 'Jalandhar Breeze' is not empanelled/recognized in the list of DAVP and necessary information in this regard has already been sent to the office of Deputy Director (Press) PFA Branch, vide letter No.1/348091/2022 dtd. 21/4/2021. Apart from the said comments no effective steps have been taken as neither the complaint of the petitioner at the grievance portal has been closed nor his press accreditation card has been renewed. Lastly, the petitioner served a Legal Notice dtd. 15/12/2022 (Annexure P-5) upon respondent-authorities but no action has been taken thereupon.