Overview
- Acting on an urgent oral mention by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant directed uninterrupted printing until the Punjab and Haryana High Court delivers its judgment and for one week thereafter.
- The Supreme Court said its directions are purely interim and do not express any view on the merits of actions taken by state authorities.
- The Punjab State Pollution Control Board had disconnected power citing alleged violations, but the Court allowed printing to continue notwithstanding that step.
- Status quo was ordered for other commercial establishments owned by the group, including hotels, reflecting that only printing operations receive temporary protection.
- Punjab’s Additional Advocate-General Shadan Farasat argued the state acted lawfully under pollution laws and said only one press unit was affected, as the High Court has already reserved its order.