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

A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said it will extend the operation of its order passed on September 6 on the plea of the Editors Guild till Friday when it will hear the case.

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 examine "biased and unethical reporting by vernacular media" on the Indian Army’s invite.

"We didn’t volunteer to go there, it is the Army which requested us. It is a very serious matter," senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the EGI members, submitted before a bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra. 

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

It is an invitation by Army saying to see what is happening there, “unethical and ex-party reporting of incidents of Manipur by vernacular media”, he said, maintaining the teams of journalists went to Manipur at Army’s invitation.

On this, the bench wondered, “Why would the Army tell the Editors Guild to come to Manipur?”.

Sibal said they wanted an objective assessment of what is happening there on the ground. 

He said once a report has been given, there can’t be offences under the penal code on that basis.

He asked the court to allow them to pursue the matter in the Delhi High Court, as lawyers in Manipur are withdrawing and "it is hazardous for us to go there at this point in time”.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Manipur government, said the EGI members may be protected for some more time and this matter can be taken up by the Manipur High Court as done in other cases.  

After hearing submissions, the bench extended till September 15, its order asking Manipur police not to take any coercive steps against four members of the EGI in connection with two FIRs lodged against them for alleged offences, including promoting enmity between two communities.

The court fixed the matter for further hearing on Friday.

On September 4, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had said a police case had been filed on the basis of a complaint against the president and three members of the Editors Guild of India and accused them of trying to "provoke clashes" in the state.