The Kerala RTI Federation has sent a representation to the Acting Chief Justice of Kerala High Court noting that the present stalemate over media reporting of court proceedings, if continued, will keep citizens in the dark about the various legal developments taking place in the High Court and subordinate courts.
In the letter, Federation president D.B. Binu said that the impasse in legal reporting continued despite the amicable settlements reached at the behest of the Chief Minister.
Outside purview of RTI
Under the RTI Rules framed by the High Court of Kerala, the Kerala High Court and subordinate courts are excluded from providing judgments and orders. Copy of the judgments or orders are available only through the litigants concerned and that too usually on a later date. The only other way the citizens is able to know about the legal developments taking place in the judiciary is through the print and electronic media. The present scenario has resulted in a blackout affecting the citizen’s right to information.
Issuing press releases of reportable judgments, orders and interim orders can go a long way in ensuring the constitutionally protected right of the citizens to know without hindering the functioning of the High Court of Kerala.
Mr. Binu suggested that a short summary of judgments/orders/interim orders might be released to the media through the Public Information Officer of the High Court besides publishing them on the official website on the same day so that reporting was done without causing hindrance to court proceedings. This would ensure accurate reporting of court proceedings through print and electronic media.
The practice followed by the Supreme Court of India in making available the judgements and interim orders on a daily basis ensure the citizen’s right to information.
‘The present scenario has resulted in a blackout affecting the citizen’s right to information’
