SC agrees on hearing plea by Editor Guild's over action against in connection with FIRs filed in Manipur

Digital Desk: Reports unfolded as the Supreme Court of India gave its approval to hear a petition by the Editors Guild of India (EGI) seeking protection for four of its members from coercive action in connection with two FIRs filed against them in Manipur.

The matter has been scheduled for a detailed hearing on September 11 (Monday) by a three-judge panel chaired by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud. In the meantime, the court also asked the Manipur Police not to take any coercive action against them.

The EGI's four members include the president and three distinguished journalists.

"We will take it up after admission (issues) are resolved," the CJI told senior attorney Shyam Divan, who raised the issue on behalf of the Guild.

As stated by Divan, two FIRs have been filed against Guild members in Manipur, and they are seeking protection from coercive action in these cases.

Also Read :  Parliament Special Session to move to New Building on Sept 19 on occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi: Report

On Monday, the Manipur government filed a complaint against a few members of the Editors Guild of India fact-finding team who had visited the state to publish a report on the present crisis. 

According to reports, an FIR has been filed in response to charges that the team's report was being termed as "false, fabricated, and sponsored."

The EGI responded by releasing a statement on Tuesday in which they expressed their concern regarding the FIRs that the Manipur Police had filed against the Guild's president as well as the members of the fact-finding team that had travelled to the state to examine and record media coverage of ethnic clashes. 

Additionally, they also expressed their "shock" at the intimidating statements made by the state's chief minister, N. Biren Singh.