KOCHI: A judicial probe will be held into the violence against mediapersons by a section of lawyers in the vicinity of the Kerala High Court on Tuesday and Wednesday. The action against advocates allegedly involved in attacking mediapersons on the HC premises, however, will be left to the acting Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan.
Advocate-general C.P. Sudhakara Prasad told reporters on Thursday that an understanding had been reached in this regard during a meeting he convened with representatives of the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) and Kerala High Court Advocates Association (KHCAA) to resolve the issue.
Mr Prasad said the deputy commissioner of police would probe all cases connected with the incidents. On reopening the media room, the A-G said the Acting Chief Justice would take a decision on it. Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph, meanwhile, has intervened in the matter and held discussions with the ACJ over the phone from New Delhi. Calling for restraint by all sections, Justice Joseph said those responsible for solving problems in society should not create them. He said he had held talks with organisations of advocates to gather details of the events.
Besides the A-G, Thursday’s meeting was attended by director-general of prosecution Manjeri Sreedharan Nair, Bar Council of Kerala chairperson Joseph John, KHCAA president S.U. Nazar, vice-president P. Krishnadas, assistant solicitor-general N. Nagaresh, KUWJ state vice-president R. Gopakumar, KUWJ Ernakulam district committee president R. Ravikumar, inspector general S. Sreejith, city police commissioner M.P. Dinesh and deputy commissioner of police Arul R.B. Krishna.
The city police commissioner, meanwhile, issued prohibitory orders in and around the High Court for the next 15 days in view of the law and order problems in the area during Tuesday and Wednesday. Accordingly, processions, dharna and gathering of people have been prohibited at Mathai Manjooran Road, ERG Road, Abraham Madmakkal Road and Salim Ali Road in the next 15 days.
