High Court: We have not imposed any ban on Journalists for reporting Court proceedings

July,31,2016:

Access of any person to the chambers of Judges and their staff would be restricted.

Owing to concerns being expressed in this regard post Lawyers - Journalists clash, Kerala High Court has clarified that there is no ban on journalists attending Courts and reporting court proceedings.

However it is stated that access of any person to the chambers of Judges and their staff would be at the discretion of the Judge concerned.

Ashok Menon  High Court Registrar General issued written statement on the basis of minutes of joint meeting taken by Acting Chief Justice and the Special Committee which was asked to formulate a detailed code for press and electronic media vis-a-vis reporting of court proceedings.

The Committee has been asked to formulate guidelines to ensure that journalists have timely and easy access to judgments and orders pronounced.

Decision was taken to insulate the personal Chamber and Office of each Judge and Court's attached staff, including private secretaries and personal assistants from unwanted visitors.

However, the statement issued is silent about Journalists’ demand to reopen the High Court Media Room. The Room was locked after a section of lawyers of the High Court clashed with journalists when Government pleader Dhanesh Mathew Manjooran was arrested on July 14.

He allegedly tried to molest a woman but lawyers involved in clashes maintained that the case is “fabricated”.