SC extends protection of Editors Guild members in two FIRs lodged against them in Manipur

Digital Desk: The Supreme Court on Monday expressed surprise at the Editors Guild of India's claim that it had sent a team of journalists to Manipur to look into "biased and unethical reporting by vernacular media" in response to the Indian Army's invite. 

Senior attorney Kapil Sibal, speaking on behalf of the EGI members before a bench consisting of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra, stated, "The Army requested us to go there; we did not volunteer to go there. , It is a very serious problem."

The counsel mentioned a letter which was sent by the Indian Army to the Editors Guild of India on July 12, 2023.

According to Sibal, the teams of journalists travelled to Manipur at the Army's invitation to investigate what was going on there and to stop "unethical and ex-party reporting of incidents of Manipur by vernacular media".

The bench wondered this, asking itself, "Why would the Army tell the Editors Guild to come to Manipur?"

Sibal stated that they desired an unbiased evaluation of the situation on the ground. 

According to him, once a report is given, there can no longer be offences against the penal code.

He requested permission from the court to pursue the case in the Delhi High Court because Manipur's lawyers were quitting and "going there at this time would be dangerous for us."

The Manipur government's Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, stated that the EGI members might be protected for a little while longer and that the Manipur High Court could take up the case as it has in prior instances.

  

Following the hearing of arguments, the court extended, till September 15, its directive to the Manipur police not to use coercion against four members of the EGI in connection with two FIRs lodged against them for alleged offences including inciting hostility between two communities.

The case was set for further hearing on Friday by the court.

The Editors Guild of India president and three other members were named in a police complaint against them on September 4, according to Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, who also accused them of attempting to "provoke clashes" in the state.