Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (RJP)

Mangaluru, Sep 23: State High Court on Friday, September 22, stayed the show cause notice issued to Mangaluru based ‘Vartha Bharati’ newspaper.

The notice was issued by assistant commissioner from Mangaluru sub division.

Justice A S Bopanna from the single bench of the High Court sent notices to assistant commissioner from Mangaluru sub division, chief secretary from the state government, secretary information and broadcasting ministry in New Delhi, while staying the show cause notice.

Senior advocate and constitutional expert Prof Ravi Varma Kumar argued on behalf of ‘Vartha Bharati’ and said that the newspaper did not publish any communally sensitive report as alleged. “But the assistant commissioner from Mangaluru sub division served the show cause notice to the newspaper saying why the recommendation to revoke the licence be made as per the press and registration of books Act of 1867 under column 14 and 15, 8 (B). But this Act cannot be used as there is another case under the same Act in a lower court,” he informed.

After hearing the arguments Justice Bopanna stayed the show cause notice and issued notices to the concerned.

As per details, ‘Vartha Bharati’ had published on September 3, the statements from the family of a person whose house was raided by police in Bantwal. The family had claimed that police had thrown the Quran and tore it during the raid. The superintendent of police had denied the charge. His statement was published in the newspaper the next day. But the police registered a case against the editor and a reporter. The reporter was arrested subsequently. The police department had complained about the incident to assistant commissioner and then a show cause notice was issued to ‘Vartha Bharati.’