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Supreme Court Stays Defamation Case Filed by Manipur Media Bodies Against Editors’ Guild Over Crisis Report

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Imphal, Sept 24:    The Supreme Court on Monday stayed a defamation case filed by the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editors’ Guild of Manipur (EGM) against the Editors’ Guild of India (EGI). The case stems from a controversial fact-finding report by the EGI on the Manipur crisis, which the local media bodies claim is based on “biased allegations” and hearsay.

The two apex media bodies in Manipur filed the defamation case after the EGI’s three-member Fact Finding Team visited the state from August 7 to 10, 2023, to assess the media’s coverage of the ethnic conflict that began on May 3, 2023. The team, which included Seema Guha, Sanjay Kapoor, and Bharat Bhushan, accused Imphal-based media outlets of bias, referring to them as “Meitei Media.” The report, published on September 2, 2023, went viral on social media, sparking outrage.

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AMWJU and EGM condemned the report, stating it misrepresented the Manipur media’s role in the crisis and unfairly favored one community. After their requests for a correction from EGI were ignored, the media bodies filed a criminal defamation case under sections 499 and 500 of the Indian Penal Code at the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in Imphal East.

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The CJM Imphal East issued an order in June 2024 summoning the EGI members, including its President Seema Mustafa, to provide clarification by mid-July. However, instead of complying, the EGI team filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court.

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On September 6, 2024, the Supreme Court issued notices to the State of Manipur, the Union of India, and AMWJU President Bijoy Kakchingtabam, seeking responses within three weeks. In the meantime, the Court stayed the defamation proceedings initiated by the CJM Imphal East.

The EGI Fact Finding Team’s visit to Manipur followed a request from the Army’s General Staff (Information Warfare) in July 2023. The report, Media’s Reportage of the Ethnic Violence in Manipur, has been widely criticized by Manipur’s media for being misleading and damaging.

With the Supreme Court’s stay order, the defamation case is temporarily on hold, while all parties prepare their responses for further proceedings. AMWJU and EGM continue to seek legal action, urging for accountability and justice over the EGI’s report, which they claim has tarnished the reputation of the state’s media.

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