In a recent legal development, the Supreme Court has extended protection to independent journalist Makepeace Sitlhou, shielding her from criminal charges arising from her tweets concerning the violence in Manipur earlier this year.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Makepeace Sitlhou, presented her case before the Supreme Court, highlighting that the journalist is currently facing a First Information Report (FIR) in Imphal due to her social media posts discussing the incidents of violence in Manipur.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, along with Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, issued interim relief to Makepeace Sitlhou by ordering a temporary halt to the criminal proceedings against her.

The court's directive explicitly states, "Until further directives, legal proceedings related to the FIRs against Makepeace Sitlhou are temporarily halted. Notices are to be issued, and the standing counsel of the Manipur government is to be served."

This move by the Supreme Court provides a crucial respite to the journalist, allowing her some relief from the legal challenges she currently faces. The court's intervention underscores the importance of safeguarding freedom of expression, especially in the context of social media and independent journalism.

Case: MAKEPEACE SITLHOU vs. STATE OF MANIPUR & ANR,

Writ Petition(s)(Criminal) No(s). 620/2023.

Click here to read/download judgment.