Justice NV Shravan Kumar of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday set aside a letter issued by the Municipal Administration department restraining the state BJP unit from advertising its candidates in print and electronic media ahead of the ensuing municipal elections.
The court was dealing with a writ petition moved as a lunch motion by B Umashankar, state office secretary of the Telangana BJP, challenging the cancellation letter dated February 9. Through the impugned communication, the municipal authorities had withdrawn the permission earlier granted to the BJP to publicise its candidates through advertisements in print and media.
After the lunch recess, Justice Shravan Kumar nullified the cancellation order, noting that the State Election Commission had already accorded permission to the BJP on February 8 to carry advertisements on February 10 and 11, highlighting its candidates contesting the municipal elections.
Senior counsel J Prabhakar, appearing for the petitioner, faulted the cancellation letter, arguing that it would seriously prejudice BJP candidates by denying them an opportunity to reach voters through publicity. He questioned the selective restraint imposed on BJP candidates, contending that when candidates of other political parties were allowed to advertise freely, there was no justification in singling out the BJP for such restrictions.
State response sought on challenge to Media Accreditation Rules
The Telangana High Court has directed the state government to file its counter-affidavit within three weeks in a writ petition challenging the Telangana Media Accreditation Rules, 2025. The bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin adjourned the matter to March 12, 2026.
The petition was filed by the Hitech Print and Electronic Media Association, represented by its president Mohammed Shafiuddin, seeking a declaration that GO Ms. No. 252, issued on December 22, 2025 by the General Administration (Information and Public Relations) Department, was unconstitutional.
The challenge relates to provisions governing eligibility of accreditation committee members, eligibility norms for daily newspapers, and entitlement of accreditations for print, electronic and digital media under Clauses 3(1)(c), 3(2), 3(3), Clause 5 and Schedules A, B and C of the Rules. The association contended that the provisions are arbitrary and discriminatory, violating Articles 14, 19(1)(a), 19(1)(g) and 21 of the Constitution, and sought suspension of the G.O. pending adjudication.
By TG Naidu