On Monday, the Supreme Court extended its order until September 15, instructing the Manipur Police not to take any coercive actions against four members of the Editors Guild of India (EGI).
The EGI members are facing two FIRs for alleged offences, including promoting enmity between two communities.
A bench headed by Chief Justice DY 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.
“We will take it up on Friday. It will take up the reply of the state government on that day,” the apex court said.
During the proceedings, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the state government, said the EGI members may be protected for some more time and the matter is sent to the Manipur High Court as done in other cases. However, senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Shyam Divan, appearing for the EGI, opposed the SG’s submission, arguing that the matter should be heard in the Supreme Court.
On September 4, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh 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.
