Padma awardee G Shankar condemns media ban

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Noted architect and Padmashree awardee G. Shankar has said that the restrictions  imposed on the media in courts were  a curb on the people’s right  to be informed. He was addressing a meeting  organised by the non-government organisation Media Research Institute in protest against the media restrictions in reporting court proceedings here on Monday. “Media is  the only source of information for the common man and the present developments have cast a shadow over this,” he said.

It was for the judiciary to take stern steps to ensure that the people’s right  to know  was protected.  Though the Chief Minister and the Chief Justice had condemned the issue and held talks, the matter remained  unsettled, he said. Others  who spoke at the meeting also condemned the suggestions to make law degree  mandatory for reporting court proceedings. Mr M.R. Thampan, former director, State Institute of Languages,  said that there was no ground  for making  law degree mandatory  for reporting court proceedings. 

“Should a person reporting a medical incident be a doctor?” he asked. Mr. Thampan also said that the administration should take a stern stand against the media ban in courts.  “The issues were created by a section of lawyers and they would be obviously getting support from various quarters,” he said. BJP former state president K. Raman Pillai  said that it was absurd to prescribe that law degree was required for journalists.  “For judiciary to remain strong, freedom of media should  be ensured,” he said. Dancer Neena Prasad said,  “media is a mirror to society and any restrictions on it should be opposed.”