Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan urges Chief Justice to step in, end media ban

Thiruvananthapuram: Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan has sought the intervention of the High Court Chief Justice to ensure the independent functioning of mediapersons on court premises across the state. In a letter to the Chief Justice, the Speaker said the current confrontation between lawyers and mediapersons was painful and uncalled for. It had led to a situation where mediapersons were not able to report independently about judgments, court proceedings and news related to court cases. He said the confrontation had also deprived the people of their right to know about court verdicts and decisions.

The intervention made by the Chief Minister twice had failed to yield any result and this was something of deep concern, he said. It was also unfortunate that despite discussions between the Chief Minister, Chief Justice and regular intervention from registrar, tension still prevailed, he added. There was no letup in the situation and it was not right for democratic traditions. “Journalism and legal service are two respectable professions. The relations between the two have worsened and this is something which I want to bring to your notice,” he said.

It was essential for the courts to build a healthy relationship with the people. It was the media that ensured such a relationship. The media persons should also maintain restraint while covering court proceedings, he said. “Efforts should be made to ensure peaceful environment for the court reporters to discharge their responsibilities without fear. The people are deprived of their right to know when the media is not allowed to report from courts. This should not happen in a democratic setup,” he said. “In these circumstances, I seek your attention and consideration towards the problem. As the head of the state’s judicial community, I am looking forward to a creative intervention from a your side,’’ he added.