Let journos report proceedings without undue restrictions: IPI

Voicing concern over reports that journalists in Kerala were being restricted from entering various courts including the High Court, the International Press Institute (IPI) today demanded that scribes be allowed to report on court proceedings without interference.
The restrictions come after a section of lawyers of the High Court clashed with journalists on July 19 and 20 at the Court over a news report published in a local daily criticising Kerala High Court Bar Association of failing to issue a statement unanimously deploring the arrest of a legal practitioner accused of molesting a woman on a city street, the IPI said in a statement.

The man, Government Pleader Danesh Mathew, was arrested on July 14, but lawyers involved in last week's clashes say the case is "fabricated", the statement added.
Mathew was granted bail and on July 19 filed a petition to quash the case.
After a group of advocates confronted journalists at the High Court on July 19, a scuffle ensued, the IPI said adding that some participants reportedly used abusive language and reporters subsequently boycotted a Bar Association press conference.
Last Wednesday, advocates at the High Court reportedly threatened reporters again, and, after the journalists were prevented from using the media room in the court complex, the media staged a sit-in in front of the High Court, the statement said adding that another clash followed, and several journalists were allegedly injured.

"Following the clashes, journalists have reportedly been denied entry to the media room in the High Court. Journalists were also prevented from accessing the media room in Thiruvananthapuram District Court, where reporters were reportedly also attacked," the statement said.

Journalists can now only receive information issued to them by the High Court's public relations officer, IPI added.
IPI Director of Advocacy and Communications Steven M Ellis called the developments troubling.
(REOPENS DES 69)
"Violence against journalists is always unacceptable, but this latest incident, coming as it does within the premises of a court, is particularly worrying," Ellis said.
The IPI statement also said that reporters covering the High Court have filed a written complaint before the acting chief justice of Kerala and the advocate general.

Last week's clashes are the second instance of violence between lawyers and journalists in India this year. In February, similar clashes took place in New Delhi amid a sedition case against the president of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)'s student union, the statement added.