The Supreme Court on Monday extended till September 15 its order asking the Manipur Police not to take any coercive steps against four members of the Editors Guild of India (EGI) in connection with two FIRs lodged against them for alleged offences, including promoting enmity between two communities.
The court, however, expressed surprise at a contention on behalf members of the Editors Guild of India that it had sent a team of journalists to Manipur to examine 'biased and unethical reporting by vernacular media' on the Indian Armys invite.
Citing a letter by Indian Army of July 12, 2023, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the EGI, submitted before a bench of Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra. Sibal said, We didnt volunteer to go thereit is the Army which requested us. It is a very serious matter.
He claimed unethical and ex-party reporting of incidents of Manipur by vernacular media. Sibal stressed that the teams of journalists had gone to Manipur at Armys invitation. He said the fact finding report should be examined here in respect of guidelines on reporting.
On this, bench wondered, Why would the Army tell the Editors Guild to come to Manipur".
The court, however, extended the operation of its order passed on September 6 till Friday, next date of hearing.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government, said the EGI members may be protected for some more time and the matter be sent to the Manipur High Court as done in other cases.
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Shyam Divan, appearing for the EGI, opposed the submission and said the matter be heard in top court as the FIRs have been lodged on the basis of a fact-finding report.
We will take it up on Friday, the bench said.
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.
A second FIR was also registered against the four members of the Guild, with the additional charge of defamation.
Till next date of listing, no coercive step shall be taken against the (four) petitioners in connection with the FIRs, the bench had ordered on September 6.
In its report published on September 2, the Guild members slammed the internet ban in the state as being detrimental to media reportage, criticised what it termed as one-sided reporting by some media outlets and claimed there were indications that the state leadership had 'turned partisan' during the conflict.
The chief minister had said, "They are anti-state, anti-national and anti-establishment (people) who came to pour venom. Had I known it before, I would not have allowed them to enter".
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