New Delhi
Seeking quashing of FIRs lodged against them by the Manipur police, the Editors Guild of India (EGI) on Monday said its fact-finding team had not visited the strife-torn State on its own but on the invitation of the Army.
“We did not volunteer to go there. It’s a letter from the Army to the Editors Guild dated July 12, 2023. It’s an invitation by the Army to the Editors Guild saying see what’s happening there. Unethical and ex-parte reporting of incidents of Manipur by vernacular media,” senior advocate Kapil Sibal said appearing for the EGI.
“They wanted us to make an objective assessment of what is happening on the ground. We published our report on September 2. On September 3 night, we were prosecuted for offences under the Indian Penal Code. The Chief Minister also makes statements against us… How can we be prosecuted for publication of a report,” Sibal argued.
The Manipur police has booked EGI president Seema Mustafa and three members namely Seema Guha, Bharat Bhushan and Sanjay Kapoor in two cases for offences including promoting enmity between two communities and defamation. The apex court had earlier extended protection to them till September 11.
On Monday, the Supreme Court sought the view of the Manipur government on whether to transfer the plea of the four EGI members for quashing the FIRs against them and other relief to the Delhi High Court for adjudication. In the meantime, the apex court extended till September 15 the protection from coercive action.
The journalists have sought the quashing of the FIRs against them and protection from any coercive action by the Manipur police.
A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices P S Narasimha and Manoj Misra observed orally as to how FIRs were lodged on the basis of a report of the fact-finding committee of the EGI when the four were not involved in criminal activities on the ground.
Nevertheless, the Supreme Court said it was not inclined to quash the FIRs and was mulling whether their plea can be transferred to the Delhi High Court or whether the Manipur High Court should take it up. The court decided to hear the matter on September 15.
