Dismissed¶27

Vikas Kumar Singh v. The State of Bihar

Patna HC24 Mar 2025CWJC/4430/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Maintainability of writ petition; private newspaper establishment not 'State' under Article 12 of the Constitution of India; Hindustan Times Ltd. @ Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd.; termination of Sub-Editor by General Manager (HRD), Patna Edition, by order dated 08-09-2000; liberty to seek remedy under the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955 (Act No.60 of 1955); writ petition dismissed; Patna High Court; CWJC No.4430 of 2025; Honourable Mr. Justice Dr. Anshuman; decided 24-03-2025.

What did the court decide?

Liberty to the petitioner to move under the provisions of the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955 (Act No.60 of 1955). ¶27

Vikas Kumar Singh Vs The State of Bihar — Patna HC (2025) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Liberty to the petitioner to move under the provisions of the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955 (Act No.60 of 1955).

¶27

Issue for consideration

Whether the writ petition is maintainable against respondent No.2, a private newspaper body, which is not 'State' within the meaning of Article 12 of the Constitution of India.

¶21

Court's answer

The writ petition is not maintainable because Hindustan Times Limited @ Hindustan Media Venture Limited is a newspaper establishment and not a State under Article 12 of the Constitution of India.

¶25

Ratio / Principle

The petitioner has liberty to move in accordance with the provisions of the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955 (Notified in extraordinary Gazette of India as Act No.60 of 1955).

¶25

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Patna High Court, Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.4430 of 2025 (Dr. Anshuman, J., oral judgment dated 24-03-2025): Petitioner, formerly a Sub-Editor in the Hindustan Times Limited, Patna Establishment, sought quashing of the order dated 8th of September, 2000 issued by the General Manager (HRD), the Hindustan Times Ltd. Patna Edition, terminating his services. The State raised a preliminary objection that respondent No.2 is a private body and not 'State' as defined under Article 12 of the Constitution of India, and the petitioner conceded that the respondent organization does not come within the purview of Article 12. Holding that Hindustan Times Limited @ Hindustan Media Venture Limited is a newspaper establishment and not a State under Article 12 of the Constitution of India, the Court held the writ petition not maintainable and dismissed it, granting the petitioner liberty to move under the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955 (Notified in extraordinary Gazette of India as Act No.60 of 1955). Judgment marked AFR; uploaded 26.03.2025.

¶1

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.4430 of 2025

¶2

======================================================

¶3

Vikas Kumar Singh Son of Late Mundrika Singh Resident of Village South of D.V.C Colony New Yarpur P. S.- Gardanibagh, District- Patna. At Present A- 35, Balaji Smriti Kunj, Professor Colony, Shivpuri, P. S.- Shashtri Nagar, District District - Patna, Patna - 800023.

¶4

... ... Petitioner/s

¶5

Versus

¶6

The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Department of Information and Public Relation, Government of Bihar, Patna.

¶7

The Hindustan Times Ltd. @ Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd. Regd. office at 18-20 Hindustan Times House, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi - 110001.

¶8

The Chair Person cum Editorial Director, The Hindustan Times Ltd. 18-20 Hindustan Times House, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi - 110001.

¶9

The Chief Executive Officer, The Hindustan Times Ltd. 18-20 Hindustan Times House Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi-110001.

¶10

The Executive President, The Hindustan Times Ltd. Patna Edition, at Budha Marg, Patna-800001.

¶11

The General Manager (HRD) The Hindustan Times Ltd. Patna Edition, at Budha Marg, Patna - 800001.

¶12

The Resident Editor The Hindustan Times Ltd. Patna Division Budha Marg, Patna 800001.

¶13

... ... Respondent/s

¶14

====================================================== Appearance : For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Jeetendra Narayan, Advocate Mr. Dhanesh Shankar Vidyarthi, Advocate For the Respondent/s : Mr. Sushant Praveer, AC to SC-9 ====================================================== CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DR. ANSHUMAN ORAL JUDGMENT Date : 24-03-2025

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Heard Learned Counsel for the petitioner and

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Learned Counsel for the State.

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The present writ petition has been filed for quashing the order dated 8^th of September, 2000 issued by the

¶18

Patna High Court CWJC No.4430 of 2025 dt.24-03-2025 2/3

¶19

General Manager (HRD), the Hindustan Times Ltd. Patna Edition, whereby the service of the petitioner has been terminated.

¶20

Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that petitioner was working as Sub-Editor in the Hindustan Times Limited in its Patna Establishment and his services had been terminated.

¶21

Learned Counsel for the State raised preliminary objection and submits that respondent No.2 is a private body and is not State as defined under Article 12 of the Constitution of India. Therefore, this writ petition is not maintainable.

¶22

After hearing the argument the petitioner submits that it is true that respondent organization is not coming within the purview of Article 12 of the Constitution of India.

¶23

In this view of the matter, this writ petition is not maintainable. However, there is special statue framed, namely, the Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955. This act has enacted to regulate certain conditions of service of working journalists and other persons employed in newspaper establishments. Here, in the present

¶24

Patna High Court CWJC No.4430 of 2025 dt.24-03-2025 3/3

¶25

matter Hindustan Times Limited @ Hindustan Media Venture Limited is a newspaper establishment and not a State under Article 12 of the Constitution of India. As such, the petitioner has only liberty to move, according to the provisions laid down under the said act, namely, Working Journalists and Other Newspaper Employees (Conditions of Service) and Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 1955 (Notified in extraordinary Gazette of India as Act No.60 of 1955).

¶26

Accordingly, the writ petition stands

¶27

dismissed.

¶28

Mkr./-

¶29

AFR/NAFR	AFR
CAV DATE	NA
Uploading Date	26.03.2025
Transmission Date	NA

Vikas Kumar Singh v. The State of Bihar

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Vikas Kumar Singh v. The State of Bihar

Case brief

What is this about?

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What the court decided

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