The Supreme Court on Wednesday said it does not want freedom of press to be muzzled or stifled but it cannot create a separate avenue for journalists to approach it directly for the quashing of FIRs lodged against them.The apex court stated this while hearing a plea filed by Foundation for Independent Journalism, which publishes digital news portal ‘The Wire', and its three journalists seeking quashing of three FIRs lodged against them in Uttar Pradesh.
A bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao asked the petitioners to approach the Allahabad High Court to seek the quashing of FIRs and granted them protection for two months. "You go to the high court and argue for quashing. We will protect you in the interim," said the bench, also comprising justices B R Gavai and B V Nagarathna.