The Andhra Pradesh high court on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by Eenadu group of publications headed by media baron Ch Ramoji Rao seeking to dismiss the government order (GO Ms No. 12) supplying Sakshi newspaper to all the village and ward secretariats.
The high court refused to entertain the supplementary petition seeking interim directions to the state government to quash GO No. 12. The court said it would not interfere in the administrative matters of the government.
The Ushodaya Publications questioned the government order aimed at improving the sales of Sakshi newspaper by providing newspaper allowance to 2.61 lakh Village and Ward Volunteers to buy Sakshi newspaper.
According to the order, each volunteer would get Rs 200 to purchase the highest circulated newspaper to keep them informed about Government development and welfare schemes and later to educate the people. In all, the government is spending Rs 5.22 crore per month.
Eenadu argued that as per the Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC), it is the largest circulated daily. But the government has refused to acknowledge it and designated Sakshi as the highest circulated daily and allocated Rs 10.45 crore for four months (December to March) towards the newspaper allowance of the employees in village and ward secretariats, it said.
It further argued that it would not only increase the revenues of Sakshi, but also increase its circulation. Though each village secretariat can get only one newspaper, the government wants each and every employee to buy the newspaper copy for obvious reasons.
“Furthermore, it will increase the availability of Sakshi in public places with elections fast approaching,” Eenadu contended.
However, the court dismissed Eenadu petition, as the government had produced enough evidences to show that Sakshi’s circulation is much more than that of Eenadu.