High Court slams open court reporting
A section of media tweaked court’s observations’
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-09-25 06:07 GMT
Kochi: Kerala High Court on Wednesday criticised the media for reporting the open court proceedings. It observed that the reports made by a section of media based on the court’s observations on the medical admission to the self-financing colleges were not true. “Taking into account the grievance voiced by the petitioner, we directed the government pleader to take instructions in several matters which ultimately arise for consideration in the public interest.
Unfortunately, both the print and visual media reported that the court severely criticised the government about the policy in the matter of admission to the professional colleges. There was no such criticism,” the court said.
Advocate B.H. Mansoor appearing for the petitioner justified the media reports. He submitted that people had a right to know as to what was happening in courts and every word expressed in the court was liable to be reported.The court observed, “We are not inclined to agree with the view expressed by the advocate.” The view of the advocates on the subject should be heard, it said.
A division bench comprising Justice K.T. Sankaran and Justice P.D. Rajan directed Advocate-General K.P. Dandapani and the president of Kerala High Court Advocates Association to appear before the court to express their views.
The court was considering a plea filed by Reshma Jagadeesh of Vaikom who moved the court against the state government. She had secured 2207th rank in the medical entrance examination conducted by the state in 2014 but due to the delay in signing an agreement with the self- financing colleges she is yet to get admission.