New Delhi: The Indian Journalists Union has welcomed the Supreme Court’s interim protection granted to The Wire and its founding editor Siddharth Varadarajan, restraining the Assam Police from taking coercive action in a case linked to an article on Operation Sindoor published by The Wire.The Supreme Court on August 12 passed its order protecting members of the Foundation for Independent Journalism, the trust that owns The Wire, as well as Varadarajan, from the FIR registered by the Assam Police under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).The FIR was registered by the Morigaon police in Assam on July 11 based on a complaint by a local BJP leader on an article on the website, ‘IAF Lost Fighter Jets to Pak Because of Political Leadership’s Constraints’: Indian Defence Attache’, published on June 28, 2025. It was on the statement made by India’s defence attache to Indonesia, Captain (Indian Navy) Shiv Kumar, who acknowledged at a seminar in Indonesia that the Indian Air Force lost fighter jets to Pakistan on the night of May 7, 2025, during Operation Sindoor, because of the “constraint given by the political leadership to not attack the military establishment or their air defences”.The IJU has called this “a significant step in upholding journalistic freedom.”“Furthermore, the Supreme Court’s observation on August 12, 2025, that a journalist’s article or video does not, prima facie, constitute an offense under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) endangering the unity and integrity of the country, reinforces the constitutional protection of free speech and the press,” it said.The journalists’ body said that the decision “emphatically upholds the principle that journalistic work, including critical reporting, cannot be arbitrarily penalized under sedition laws or similar provisions.”“The IJU views this as a victory for democracy and a reaffirmation of the judiciary’s role in protecting the fourth estate from misuse of legal provisions to suppress dissent or critical voices,” it said.In a statement, IJU president and former member of the Press Council of India, Geetartha Pathak, stated, “The Supreme Court’s ruling is a beacon of hope for journalists across India who face increasing threats and legal intimidation for simply doing their job. By clarifying that journalistic work does not inherently attract charges of sedition, the Court has strengthened the democratic fabric of our nation. We urge authorities to respect this precedent and ensure that journalists are not harassed through the misuse of laws.”Sabina Inderjit, IJU’s secretary general and vice-president of the International Federation of Journalists, was quoted in it as having said, “This decision sends a powerful message globally that India’s judiciary stands firm in protecting press freedom. Journalists play a vital role in holding power to account, and the Supreme Court’s observation ensures that they can perform their duties without fear of retribution. We stand in solidarity with all journalists facing legal challenges and call for an end to the weaponisation of laws against the media.”The IJU commended the Supreme Court “for its progressive stance and [urged] the government and law enforcement agencies to respect the principles of free speech and press freedom enshrined in the Constitution.”It said that it remained committed to advocating for an environment where journalists can work fearlessly to uphold truth and accountability.