The Andhra Pradesh High Court warned Sakshi editor Dhanunjay Reddy and chief reporter Phani Kumar for publishing a story that, according to the Court, created contempt against the state Assembly.
You see the Court taking the issue seriously and moving the process forward.
The High Court refused to stop the inquiry being handled by the Assembly Privilege Committee. Since the case already reached the show cause notice stage, you cannot expect any intervention now. The Court took the issue seriously and moved the process forward.
The Court also recorded the statement of the secretary general and the counsel for the Privilege Committee. They agreed to give more time for additional information. You now see A two-week extension has been granted to the editor and reporter.
The High Court then postponed the date fixed earlier by the Privilege Committee. The secretary general sent a letter asking the Sakshi team to appear before the Committee on November 21. The Court pushed the next hearing by two weeks.
Before the budget session, the government planned training classes for legislators on February 22 and 23, but the plan did not happen. Sakshi used the situation to publish the article titled 'kotlu kharchu, sikshana tussu', accusing the government of wasting crores. MLA G Jayasurya complained that the story misled people.
After receiving the complaint, the Speaker forwarded the issue to the Privilege Committee. On June 3, the Assembly secretary general wrote to the Sakshi editor and chief reporter seeking an explanation. They questioned the letter in the High Court, but the Court dismissed their petitions.
Following that dismissal, the Sakshi editor and chief reporter appealed to the jury. Both sides argued their points on Thursday. The counsel for the Privilege Committee said they followed the law, which is why they asked the Sakshi representatives to appear on November 21.