New Delhi, Oct. 16 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday directed that no coercive action be taken against a woman journalist accused of making casteist remarks against Delhi Police assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Vivek Bhagat, after she alleged that the case against her was a counterblast to her complaint accusing the officer of sexual harassment during a protest in the Capital. The order came on a day the Delhi High Court declined to hear urgently the journalist's plea challenging the FIR against her for allegedly making casteist remarks, publicly humiliating Bhagat and obstructing him from discharging his official duties. However, the bench agreed to hear the matter on Friday. A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a petition filed by the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI), which flagged allegations of violence and sexual harassment faced by women journalists covering protests in Delhi on October 10 and earlier. The petitioner, represented by senior advocate Indira Jaising, was allowed to submit in a sealed cover the identities of all women journalists who were victims and wished to submit complaints in writing. Jaising said that since the allegation was against police personnel, an independent commission be constituted, comprising former women judges, Indian Police Service (IPS) officers, eminent citizens and social activists. The court said, "Meanwhile, no coercive action be taken against the journalist," and further allowed Jaising to submit in a sealed cover her suggestions on persons who could be part of the committee. "There are allegations against certain police officers. We are considering whether there must be an independent committee to probe them," the court remarked. It also raised questions about the scope of protections that should be extended to journalists covering protests....