Supreme Court Orders Punjab to Restore Punjab Kesari Printing Presses

The Supreme Court of India issued an interim order on January 20, 2026, directing the Government of Punjab to restore and maintain the uninterrupted operation of printing presses for the Punjab Kesari Group, including its facility in Ludhiana. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant ruled that while commercial properties like hotels could remain shut, the publication of the newspaper must not be hampered.

The order followed actions by the Punjab State Pollution Control Board to disconnect power and shut down presses over alleged pollution violations. The Punjab Kesari Group, represented by advocate Mukul Rohatgi, alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party-led administration launched a targeted witch-hunt and retaliatory raids after the group published reports critical of the government and National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal.

The Government of Punjab rejected these claims, characterizing them as a vendetta narrative. State officials asserted that the closures were based on documented environmental and excise violations, including the discharge of untreated effluents and illegal liquor storage at a Jalandhar hotel. The Supreme Court's protection remains in effect until the Punjab and Haryana High Court pronounces its reserved judgment and for seven days thereafter.