New Delhi, Dec 8, 2008 : On Wednesday, the Supreme Court issued notice to the Tripura government, police, and the petition filed by three journalists from HW Network.FIRs were filed against them in connection with their reports on the recent communal violence in the State. Justice D.Y.headed the bench.Justice D.Y.Chandrachud ruled that no coercive proceedings were initiated against journalists or any other proceedings related to the FIRs filed until the next hearing.The state was ordered by the top court to respond within four weeks.
Siddharth Luthra, senior advocate representing petitioners, argued before the bench that journalists were covering the issue and then there was an investigation.
He stated that journalists were granted bail, but there was an FIR.Luthra stated that this was “really untenable” and not justifiable.
The FIRs were viewed by the petitioners as an attempt to harass journalists and they moved the Supreme Court for quashing.
Justice Chandrachud stated that the court would issue notice in the matter, and there will be a stay on any further proceedings of FIR.”Counter to file within four weeks and liberty to serve Tripura’s counsel,” said the bench.
The media company Theos Connect which operates HW News Network’s digital news portal, had filed a complaint with the Supreme Court.
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