New Delhi: The Supreme Court issued notice to the Tripura government and police on Wednesday in response to a petition brought by three HW Network journalists, against whom FIRs were filed in connection with their news reportage on the state's recent communal violence.

Any coercive procedures against the journalists, as well as any other processes related to the FIRs lodged, have been stayed until the next date of hearing, according to a bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. The state has been given four weeks to file a response by the Supreme Court.

The petitioners' senior attorney, Siddharth Luthra, argued before the bench that journalists were covering the storey and later an FIR was filed. He went on to say that journalists had been granted bail, but that another FIR had been filed. "This is completely untenable and unjustified," Luthra said.

The petitioners have accused the FIRs of being an attempt to harass the press and have petitioned the Supreme Court to have the case dismissed. The court will issue a notice in the matter, and all further FIR proceedings will be stayed, according to Justice Chandrachud. The bench stated, "Counter to be filed within 4 weeks and liberty to serve the counsel of Tripura."

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