Patna High Court
Vikas Kumar Singh vs The State Of Bihar on 24 March, 2025
Author: Anshuman
Bench: Anshuman
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.4430 of 2025
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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.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through the Principal Secretary, Department of
Information and Public Relation, Government of Bihar, Patna.
2. The Hindustan Times Ltd. @ Hindustan Media Ventures Ltd. Regd. office at
18-20 Hindustan Times House, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi - 110001.
3. The Chair Person cum Editorial Director, The Hindustan Times Ltd. 18-20
Hindustan Times House, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi - 110001.
4. The Chief Executive Officer, The Hindustan Times Ltd. 18-20 Hindustan
Times House Kasturba Gandhi Marg, New Delhi-110001.
5. The Executive President, The Hindustan Times Ltd. Patna Edition, at Budha
Marg, Patna-800001.
6. The General Manager (HRD) The Hindustan Times Ltd. Patna Edition, at
Budha Marg, Patna - 800001.
7. The Resident Editor The Hindustan Times Ltd. Patna Division Budha Marg,
Patna 800001.
... ... Respondent/s
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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
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CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE DR. ANSHUMAN
ORAL JUDGMENT
Date : 24-03-2025
Heard Learned Counsel for the petitioner and
Learned Counsel for the State.
2. The present writ petition has been filed for
quashing the order dated 8th of September, 2000 issued by the
Patna High Court CWJC No.4430 of 2025 dt.24-03-2025
General Manager (HRD), the Hindustan Times Ltd. Patna
Edition, whereby the service of the petitioner has been
terminated.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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
Patna High Court CWJC No.4430 of 2025 dt.24-03-2025
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).
7. Accordingly, the writ petition stands
dismissed.
(Dr. Anshuman, J)
Mkr./-
AFR/NAFR AFR
CAV DATE NA
Uploading Date 26.03.2025
Transmission Date NA
