The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : ‘Relationship between media and courts of law mutually supportive’

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Sunday, Aug 31, 2008
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‘Relationship between media and courts of law mutually supportive’

Correspondent

Reach of the mass media is constantly increasing, says Chief Justice of India

Displeasure over some ‘irresponsible’ reporting of court proceedings
Courts will place their judgments and orders on their websites, says the Chief Justice

CUTTACK: Media and legal luminaries have unanimously agreed that the relationship between the media and courts of law would continue to play mutually supportive roles in upholding the freedom of speech and expression.

This conclusion was inferred after a daylong workshop held here on Saturday on the topic “Reporting of court proceedings by media and administration of justice”.

In his inaugural address Chief Justice of India K G Balkrishnan said the reach of mass media was constantly increasing.

The judiciary’s commitment to bring “justice” closer to each citizen could not be achieved without cooperation and synergy with media, he said.

“It is through media that the citizens were reassured that the various arms of the State were performing their roles as per their constitutional obligations. It is also the media that often helps in conveying the expectations of the citizen”, the Chief Justice said.

‘Evolve a channel’

Expressing displeasure about some “irresponsible” reporting of court proceedings without verifying the facts, the CJI suggested to evolve a channel of communication between courts and media for better administration of justice and dissemination of information.

With a view to making legal information easily accessible, the CJI informed that the Supreme Court and High Courts were placing their judgments and orders on their websites.

He said the orders and judgments would now be available online and there were plans to appoint Press Information Officers (PIOs) in courts to clear any doubt among the correspondents reporting court proceedings.

Among others senior judges of the Apex Court Justice Ashok Bhan, Justice Arijit Pasayat, Chief Justices of Orissa, Guahati, Patna, Jharkhand and Calcutta High Court, including several other judges of these HCs spoke on the occasion. Chairman of Press Council of India, editors of some local dailies and State Law Minister B B Harichandan participated in the deliberations. Some senior advocates of the Supreme Court including Arun Jaitley also spoke on the occasion.

The workshop deliberated on freedom of press, reporting of court proceedings, restrictions on reporting sub-judice matters and trial by media.

The workshop was organized by national and state legal services authority along with Press Council of India, Editors Guild of India and Indian Law Institute.

At least 40 legal correspondents from eastern part of the country participated in the workshop which was second of its kind after the first regional workshop held in Kerala in April this year.

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