National Desk, 6th September:The Editors Guild of India (EGI) has taken legal action by filing a petition in the Supreme Court against a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Manipur police. The FIR is targeted at a fact-finding team from EGI and the organization’s president, pertaining to a report on the conflict in Manipur, a northeastern state of India.
The matter was brought before a bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud and Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra. Senior Advocate Shyam Divan represented EGI and sought urgent directions under Article 32 of the Indian Constitution to quash two FIRs lodged by the State police.
The FIRs filed by Manipur police accuse EGI of promoting hostility between different groups, invoking various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). These allegations stem from EGI’s publication of a report on the media’s coverage of ethnic violence in Manipur on September 2.
Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh confirmed his government’s filing of an FIR against the EGI president and three senior journalists—Seima Guha, Bharat Bhushan, and Sanjay Kapoor. These journalists had visited the state between August 7 and 10 to investigate media reporting of the ethnic conflict.
The EGI report highlighted the immense pressure on journalists, whether from the Meitei or Kuki communities, to align their reporting with the prevailing sentiments of their respective ethnic groups. The situation was exacerbated by internet restrictions, a vital tool for modern journalism, which further complicated their work.
The case is significant as it involves the freedom of the press and the role of journalists in reporting on sensitive issues, particularly in conflict zones.