New Delhi, Oct. 15 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday verbally observed that it becomes difficult to demarcate and protect legitimate reporters accredited to credible news organisations who qualify as journalists, when the right to freedom of expression under Article 19 enables every citizen to claim the space of a journalist, while considering a plea alleging harassment, assault and detention of journalists during the October 10 protests in Delhi.

The verbal observation came as a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi considered pleas alleging harassment and manhandling of women journalists by police personnel during the protests. The Court said the allegations were serious.

"The difficulty is when e...