Kerala Governor P Sathasivam today lamented that the continuing stand-off between media and lawyers in courts in Kerala was not good for democracy. The former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court appealed to both the media and lawyers to arrive at a peaceful agreement considering the fact that the two sections have significant duties in a democracy.
"I had appealed for a peaceful agreement but sadly the issue still continues. The result is the people are not being informed about what happens in various courts.Even verdicts with wider implications remain unknown.This is not good for democracy," he said.
He was addressing a gathering of journalists after inaugurating the Golden Jubilee Annual Day celebrations of the foundation stone laying ceremony of Ernakulam Press Club here.
Batting for free access for journalists in courts, he urged media persons to "maintain dignity and decorum" in courts while carrying out their professional duty.
"Whether in a high court or subordinate courts journalists must have a free access.They must have freedom to note down what is happening in Court hall," the governor said.
Describing media persons and lawyers as "two eyes" of the democratic system, Sathasivam said media is the way to take the decisions of the courts to the public.
"How many persons will read our law journals? Only lawyers and judges--not others.Or maybe one or two litigants."
"...You are free to visit court hall.When a judge passes an order, you are free to enter his chamber and note down.You have to maintain dignity and decorum in the courts.You should not have any quarrel with anyone including our lawyer friends," he said.
Recalling the steps he had taken to provide basic facilities for media persons, both accredited and non-accredited, covering Supreme Court proceedings, the governor said media persons should be provided a restroom and minimum facilities like washroom to address nature's call. He said pendency of a case in apex court on the stand-off was not a bar for solving the issue in High Court tself.
The governor said he would try his best to solve the issue by talking to lawyers, judges and media persons.
Earlier, Ernakulam MP K V Thomas sought the governor's intervention to "protect the Freedom of the Press" in judicial houses.
Some High Court lawyers had clashed with journalists in Kochi on July 14 on reports about the arrest of a government pleader who allegedly tried to molest a woman. This incident resulted in a stand-off between the media and lawyers in courts in Kerala.
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