Gujarat Law Herald, the law magazine published by the Bar Council of Gujarat (BCG) has hit a legal hurdle. The Press Registrar appointed under the provisions of the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867, has said that the title will not be available to BCG. Following this, BCG has filed a petition in the High Court challenging the decision. The court has stayed the order.

According to the petitioner’s counsel, P V Hathi, BCG has been publishing the law magazine since 1981.

“Recently, we applied for renewal of our registration through the Sub-Divisional Magistrate. But in reply, the Press Registrar’s office said that this title – Gujarat Law Herald – cannot be given to us. They also said that no further correspondence in this connection will be entertained,” said Hathi.

He added: “This decision of the national body is arbitrary. They have not given us any chance to present our case before giving the title to anyone else. So, we have challenged the decision.”

BCG has also made the office of the Chief Postmaster General as one of the respondents in the case, as it gives postal concession to all registered publications in the country. Without registration and postal concession, the cost of sending the magazine to its subscribers can be quite expensive.

Following the reply of the Press Registrar, the office of the Chief Postmaster General asked BCG to provide proof of its registration to avail the postal concession.

Hathi said: “The HC has stayed the Press Registrar’s decision not to award the title to BCG. It has also directed the Chief Postmaster General and Senior Superintendent of Post Offices that they cannot refuse to give postal concession to BCG.”

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