AMWJU issues legal notice to PUCL over ‘defamatory’ Manipur media report

Guwahati: The All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) has accused the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) of publishing a report that allegedly defames the state’s media community.

The journalists’ body has issued a legal notice demanding the immediate withdrawal of the report and an unconditional public apology from PUCL.

Advocate Hijam Chandrakumar, a member of the Media Legal Committee jointly formed by AMWJU and the Editors’ Guild Manipur (EGM), prepared and sent the notice.

The document argues that PUCL’s recent publication on “media testimonies” related to the Manipur conflict contains “false, unverified, and malicious” statements against the union.

AMWJU contends that the PUCL report wrongly brands the organization as “Godi media,” accuses it of intimidating journalists, and misrepresents its membership structure.

It also objects to the report’s use of terms such as “Imphal-based Meitei media,” which the union claims promotes communal bias. The union dismissed all allegations of partisan reporting or exclusionary practices as baseless.

Clarifying its stance, AMWJU stated that its membership rules follow its own constitution, state and national laws, and guidelines from the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR).

It added that membership is open to all qualified working journalists employed with RNI-registered publications, regardless of ethnicity or affiliation.

“The PUCL report relies entirely on unverified accounts and was published without seeking AMWJU’s response,” the notice said, describing the omission as a violation of the principles of natural justice.

Advocate Chandrakumar asserted that the publication has “seriously damaged the hard-earned reputation and credibility of AMWJU as a defender of journalistic ethics and press freedom.”

He cautioned that if PUCL does not retract the report and apologize publicly within 30 days, AMWJU will initiate civil and criminal proceedings under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, including defamation charges and a claim for damages.