Hearing a plea against a government order to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), publisher of National Herald newspaper, to vacate its premises, the Delhi High Court Thursday ruled for status quo in the matter till November 22.
Hearing a plea against a government order to Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), publisher of National Herald newspaper, to vacate its premises, the Delhi High Court Thursday ruled for status quo in the matter till November 22.
AJL approached the court on November 12, challenging the October 30 order of Urban Development Ministry, ending its 56-year-old lease and asking it to vacate the premises at ITO by November 15.
According to the petition by AJL, the Centre issued the notice on the grounds that “no press has been functioning in the said premise for the last 10 years”; “misuse” of the premises; and transfer of shares of AJL to Young India without permission of lessor that is a “violation of a clause in a lease deed”.
Appearing for AJL, advocate Abhishek Singhvi argued that National Herald continues to be published from the premises after a brief interruption due to “financial difficulties” . Regarding “misuse” of the premises, Singhvi argued that eviction proceedings against an 84-feet photocopy shop is ongoing in civil court since a decade. On “violation” of clause i.e allegation of transfer of the premises to Young Indian, when it became a shareholder of AJL by taking over its debt, Singhvi said the change in shareholding does not lead to transfer of property.
AJL approached the court on November 12, challenging the October 30 order of Urban Development Ministry, ending its 56-year-old lease and asking it to vacate the premises at ITO by November 15.
According to the petition by AJL, the Centre issued the notice on the grounds that “no press has been functioning in the said premise for the last 10 years”; “misuse” of the premises; and transfer of shares of AJL to Young India without permission of lessor that is a “violation of a clause in a lease deed”.
Appearing for AJL, advocate Abhishek Singhvi argued that National Herald continues to be published from the premises after a brief interruption due to “financial difficulties” . Regarding “misuse” of the premises, Singhvi argued that eviction proceedings against an 84-feet photocopy shop is ongoing in civil court since a decade. On “violation” of clause i.e allegation of transfer of the premises to Young Indian, when it became a shareholder of AJL by taking over its debt, Singhvi said the change in shareholding does not lead to transfer of property.