SC Grants Editors Guild Fact Finding Team Protection from Coercive Action in Manipur FIRs

The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted protection to four members of the Editors Guild of India from any coercive action until Monday in connection with two FIRs filed against them in Manipur. These FIRs include allegations of promoting enmity between two communities.

A bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, along with Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, has also asked for the state government’s response to the plea filed by the Editors Guild. The matter has been scheduled for September 11, 2023.

On September 4, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh had announced that a police case had been filed based on a complaint against the president and three members of the Editors Guild of India, accusing them of attempting to “provoke clashes” in the state. A second FIR was also filed against these four Guild members, with an additional charge of defamation.

In a report published on Saturday, the Guild criticized the internet ban in Manipur, deeming it detrimental to media coverage. The report also condemned what it perceived as one-sided reporting by certain media outlets and suggested that the state leadership had exhibited partisanship during the conflict period.