JUDGMENT

The Court convened through video conferencing.

1. We have heard Mr Mukul Rohatgi with Mr Siddharth Bhatnagar, senior counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner.

2. Mr Kapil Sibal, senior counsel appears on behalf of the State of Maharashtra. Mr Vivek Tankha, senior counsel appears on behalf of the State of Chhattisgarh. Dr Manish Singhvi, senior counsel appears on behalf of the State of Rajasthan. They have opposed the petition.

3. Leave to amend, on the oral request of senior counsel appearing on behalf of the petitioner, for the purpose of:

(i) Impleading the complainants at whose behest, the First Information Reports (FIRs)or, as the case may be, the criminal complaints have been filed;

(ii) Setting up an alternate prayer for the consolidation of all the FIRs or, as the case may be, criminal complaints for being investigated at one and the same place; and

(iii) Filing copies of the FIRs and the criminal complaints.

4. Issue notice, returnable in eight weeks. Notice shall also issue to the respondents permitted to be impleaded by amendment.

5. The petitioner is the Editor-in-Chief of Republic TV. The principal submission on the basis of which these proceedings have been in