Will intervene to settle issues between lawyers, media: SC Judge Kurian Joseph

Kochi: With no end to the impasse between lawyers and the media at various courts in Kerala, a Supreme Court Judge on Saturday said that he would again intervene to settle issues.

Since July 19, the media has been virtually banned by lawyers in several courts, including the High Court, for covering legal proceedings.

On Friday, things again went haywire at the High Court, even when the damage control exercise initiated by the new Kerala High Court Chief Justice Mohan Shantanagoudar failed after a group of journalists, who had come to the court for reporting, was chased away by the lawyers.

"I will intervene again in this issue, as this happened in a court where I was a Judge. Wounds take time to heal and the media should lie low for some more time. I will again take up this issue," said Kurian Joseph to a TV channel.

Joseph presently is a Supreme Court Judge and in July had made an effort to settle the issue between the media and lawyers.

He pointed out that in the apex court accredited journalists were allowed to the court room.

"The media has the right to know from the court and not from the Judge," added Joseph.

Reacting to the incident that took place at the High Court, leader of opposition Ramesh Chennithala blamed the Kerala government for not resolving the issue when it occurred first.

"The statement of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to the media in July was, `don`t go to get beaten and to beat`, this is what has happened. Instead of resolving the issue between the media and lawyers, no action came from the state government. It is the duty of the government to see that things fall in place," said Chennithala.

State Congress president VM Sudheeran said that the Kerala Governor should intervene to find a solution to the present impasse.

"What happened on Friday was nothing but `goondaism` by a section of the lawyers. Action should be taken against these lawyers by their associations. What now shows is the attitude of the state government towards the media. This should change," said Sudheeran said.