Lawyers and media persons engaged in a scuffle in front of the Kerala high Court in Kochi on Wednesday. PTIAdvocates have to act fearlessly for rule of law to prevail, just as a fearless media is essential for democracy. However, streets are not the ideal place to demonstrate that fearlessness.
The violent assault on Kanhaiya Kumar by advocates in Delhi had invited the ire of the Supreme Court but that was not guarantee enough that such incidents were not repeated. Advocates are agitating along with the judges in Telangana and against the judges in Tamil Nadu.
Black is a sacred color in the administration of justice. Black symbolizes wisdom, not just protest and mourning. The men in black getting beaten up by the police in front of the Kerala high court is not a reassuring sight.
Advocates in Pakistan dared the army to protect the independence of judiciary. The esteemed lawyers of the High Court of Kerala fought journalists over a piece of news which reflected poorly on the fraternity. News may not appeal to everyone.
Lawyers' attack on journalists at Kerala HC: govt likely to order judicial probe
M.K. Damodaran alleges that media did not give him a fair treatment. Everyone is free to make such complaints, but the reactions should be just.
Journalists are facing criticism that they are reporting the tussle with advocates in their favor. Media must avoid arbitrary presentation of news. When the reporters boycotted a press conference called by the advocates, they missed an opportunity to convince the advocates about the crucial role they have to play.
The advocates ousted the reporters from the media room allotted by the high court. They should have remembered that the room and the camera they broke were their windows to the world.
Of course, the police have limitations in interfering in a tussle between advocates and reporters on the premises of a court. Still, Kochi is not Kashmir. We need to find solutions for such crises. Troubles recur for want of awareness.
The dignity of the practice of law has been lost with the crass commercialization. It has moved away from humanism and values based on humanism. Advocates should not act like organized laborers protesting the arrest of a fellow worker. They should not take to the streets to protest a news report.
Many advocates earn a name through the reports sent by these very journalists. They could be brought to their senses if their names are omitted from the court news. But journalism is not a platform to get even with the adversaries. This is as sacred a profession as the practice of law. We do not have to debate on which is holier.
A news item should not be a trigger for violence. A news cannot be kept under wraps because it concerns a criminal case against an advocate. An accused is presumed innocent unless pronounced guilty. The police, advocates and judges hardly follow this principle while treating an accused. Even the media is no different.
News and justice are too sacred to be settled on the street. We need leaders capable enough to spread the message of calm.
Such episodes are sure to recur, given the aggressive postures by the advocates, who would not even heed their seniors’ counsel.
