The City Civil Court here turned into a battlefield on Friday as groups of lawyers launched a no-holds-barred attack on journalists who had come to cover the proceedings of the special CBI court where Bellary mining baron G. Janardhan Reddy was produced at 11 a.m.
The injured included Sessions Court judge R.B. Budhihal in a lathi-charge, nearly a dozen journalists, policemen as well as lawyers. Property worth several lakhs of rupees, particularly motorbikes and cars, was damaged or destroyed in the melee. At least 60 people were treated in various government hospitals in the city.
Judicial probe
Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident.
One of the first journalists to be hit on Friday was K.N. Kiran, a television reporter. Even as policemen watched, he was attacked by a group of lawyers around 10.30 a.m. when he tried to enter the court hall. “They kept telling me that the beating was for the negative coverage of the January 16 incident [when lawyers had gone on a similar rampage],” Mr. Kiran told The Hindu.
When the CBI court proceedings began, the judge ordered journalists to vacate the room. The lawyers then took it upon themselves to shove journalists out of the premises. Things were calm till the court proceedings concluded.
As soon as Mr. Janardhan Reddy was driven away by the CBI police, the lawyers once again demanded that all journalists leave the premises. At this point four women television reporters walked up to the lawyers and tried to reason with them. But this soon degenerated into a shouting match and some of the women were jostled and groped.
Then all hell broke loose and lawyers started attacking the journalists with whatever they could find — stones, flowerpots, helmets, sticks and furniture.
Throughout this the police played a passive role and did not attempt to contain the lawyers even when one projectile struck Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Division) G. Ramesh. It was only when Police Commissioner Jyothi Prakash Mirji came under attack that some constables started a lathi-charge.
Journalists retaliate
The police finally contained the lawyers by surrounding the court complex and launching at least four waves of baton charges. But just when matters began to settle (around 3.30 p.m.) a section of journalists joined some policemen in attacking anybody wearing a white shirt and black trousers. Together, they set fire to several vehicles that bore the sign “advocate”. Some journalists who tried to stop others from resorting to this arson were also thrashed by their own counterparts.
Keywords: Bangalore court clash, lawyers-police clash, G. Janardhan Reddy, Karnataka mining scam, illegal mining, Obulapuram mines
What a ridiculous situation, even accused have started greeting people on their way to jail, as if they are on a foreign mission to emancipate the downtrodden. What they would be telling: Dear supporters we will meet there? Implying that there are many to follow him? When he is out the same crowed will not be there because many will be inside? Exactly the same way they undertake relay hunger strike. We should appreciate the unity.
India's only biggest problem is its own system, which needs to be set straight. Corruption is rampant, unless honest people sit in public administration post, India can never progress properly. Corruption and the Corrupt people in Administration and Society need to be eradicated by any means for good of the country.
One should see this unsavory incidence from both perspectives - from the point of the lawyers as well as from the journalists. The repeated reminder from the lawyers to the journalists to leave and the adamant attitude of the journalists. The whole issue is about showcasing of power and eruption of violent action is the aftermath. Neither of the party can be justify base on the nature of the destruction - physical injury and damage to properties. If the highly regarded professional can resort to such act why should they speak ill of terrorism and other social evils. Nobody is above the laws befitting punishment should be equally meted out to the perpetrators.
Lawyers should't behave in this way. At the same time, there are so many irresponsible media which is reporting false news to people and creating a havoc in society. There is no control on such foreign funded media which is trying to destabilise the economy by triggering emotions of the people. Even though it is not justifiable it is needed sometimes so Media knows their Limit..However i pity about the victims of this incident.
TO Ramgopal. If you don't have the courage to face the media abscond
and go in hibernation. There are tainted and tilted professionals in
every profession. DO you recommend we should beat them up? There are
tainted doctors, tilted bureaucrats, inclined and declined engineers do
you suggest we should beat them all? Come on! please this is not an
assault on media only. This is display of contempt towards the nation.
After all we are the voice of people. Vox populi vox devine!You want to
ban media in parliament and assemblies so that you do what suits you.
We (media) don't want to remain the darling of the authorities. Thanks
to media you feel like having an opinion on every subject. And with all
out efforts of media scams like 2G and CWG are surfacing. The messages
that we carry when they don't suit the readers they (readers) suit the
messenger. Please save the forth pillar of democracy from faltering
under these scathing attacks breeding out of frustration.
Vande Matram to all.
"The Hindu" is showing only one face of the event. I have seen so many times that journalist especially in urban areas are the most arrogant and uncontrolled lot. Most of them neither have the knowledge nor the intellect to analyse the events and problems in unbiased manner.
The editorials and articles in most of the newspapers only points to the problems but they never educate public about the solution to those problems. What is the point in articles and editorials which cannot provide different dimensions of solutions.
Country needs intellectual journalists who not only reports the events in unbiased manner but also provide alternative solutions to contemporary problems rather to highlight only problems.
Jai Hind!
The behaviour of lawyers are not expected from them.We have to go for justice in our judicial
system through lawyers only.Now public fear to approach them for representing our
grievances.Their behaviour must be respected.
The lawyers are there to protect and give justice but when they behave like rogues they don't have the right to go to court and talk about justice.
Lawyers always seem to think that they are above law and they hold courts to ransom by their hooliganism, this is only because of the political patronage they receive, now its time for Supreme Court to clean the rot in their back yard. Supreme Court should punish lawyers who create havoc based on their political leanings starting with this case, all lawyers involved must be arrested forthwith and their bar membership and right to practice must be cancelled.
OK, I am taking a stand for the lawyers, let us just say, the media created trouble, is this the way lawyers react to it, do they not know the law of the land? Would they immediately gang up and start rioting? who gives them the powers to do so? If I am being assaulted in public, I am supposed to go to the police and not gang up with women organizations or the public and start revolting. Now to the media - how did the media report of deaths on either side without knowing realities? how cheaply hungry is today's media world. Misguiding public and it has increased intensity of the riots and public damage. Should we file a PIL against the media for floating rumors? Media grow up, It would be nice, if you make do without "FLASH NEWS". My dear dear police men of Bangalore, aren't we supposed to work hand in hand with lawyers? are we fighting egos at the cost of public funds and lives? Can we please try to resolve issues across the table please? I have a very high regard to the policemen in K'taka since they have treated me very courteously when I have had to resolve some issues with unknown people. There was never an ugly moment and I would say, the police is safe for women. Can we all start working together and not create further damage or we shall pray for a Jayalalitha kind of Act here to control the situation.
It is sickening to listen to this story. India where are you heading to? Sad state of affairs!
Shameless people we are,especially the educated and so called intelligentia of the country.I am at a loss to know what do they learn in their professional colleges.It is sad to see that the law,law makers and law enforcement bodies all failing in the country. What is the use of development and what is development without morals and civilization?
Our media are saintly? Except The Hindu (exemplary in its unadultrated and unbiased journalism) and a couple of other national or regional newspapers, all other Indian print and broadcast media are aligned with one or the other political party, corporate, or pressure group. This is obvious even to the feeble minded and other simple folk. I have heard simple living rural folk express disparaging comment about newspapers and TV channels, incl. English channels, as regards blatantdisplay of bias. So, if our legal profession takes umbrage at journalists, one tends to sympathize with that view, even if one does not condone acts of mindless violence and illegality by those who are supposed to assist in interpreting the law in terms of the constitution and the penal code, as officers of law courts!
A Punjab ministers shows fingers to journalists, K. Srikant, chairman
of the selectors asks a journalists to shut up, cricketers show fingers
to journalist, Kripashankar's (the tainted Mumbai-based congress
politician) son, shows fingers to journalists and finally the
custodians of law and constitution attacks them (journalist) with
whatever they could. And all these happened within one weak. Media has,
of late becoming the target of these non-accountable tainted rascals.
These idiots don't want to stop their idiotic deeds, they don't want to
stop watching porn, they don't want to stop defending indefensible,
they don't want to stop accumulating disproportionate assets, they
don't want to stop illegal mining rather they find it more easy to
kill the voices which expose their political misdeeds and put forth
their misconduct. This is a rape of Indian democracy.
It is a shame that the protectors of law have taken it upon themselves to behave in such an animal fashion. i would not want to buy all that the journalists say. after all they control the communication media. As an educator, i fear the future of our country for all that we set before our next generation are lessons of violence and disharmony. let us conduct ourselves so as to ensure the young minds are guided properly.
I see a lot of comments saying that they had high regards for lawyers. In karnataka its usually the person who wasted all his school days loating and seeing movies who end up with the law degree. In many law colleges there is no need to study too, the exam standard low that many students from other states come here to BUY a law degree.It is these low level advocates who run for political affiliations that create the ruckus. They use this party affiliation to get involved in different cases including this one.
Now here is yet another example how the thuggery based Indian political parties work through threat of blackmail violence. They think they are above the law and use thugs to intimidate people and institutions and even the government of the day that try to impose the law of the land. Thugs and goons are thus an essential part of all political parties as an insurance and to maintain them they need huge stash of money. India is held hostage by 100s of such political parties across the land. A result of weak governance from days back when the netas of main political parties made concessions after concessions ( to riff raff political parties and their splinters to their demand to turn a blind eye to their wrong doings ), in their desperate urge to seize or hang on to power. Now the monster had reached uncontrollable proportions and the process of law enforcement is almost non-existent.
First there should be a law/rule that should make it mandatory to every one in the country to implement the judgement of high courts/supreme court,failing which the individual, including the Prime minister, should be proscribed and sent to jail for life and if the leader happens to be from a recognised/ unrecognised political party or belonging to social organizations, their privilege to contest elections to be withdrawn but members of the party cannot contest elections for their life time. The country will develop only when the chief ministers and other politicians obey the law otherwise we will soon witness very bad deteriorating conditions.
Wow! This surely is a one sided argument against the lawyers. The final short paragraph about the 'few' journalist rowdies (no such concession offered to lawyers - all of them are rowdies) added for completeness so that the bias is not too obvious. And Kudos for the headline 'lawyers run riot in bangalore' (again, not lawyers and journalist) that sets the opinion before someone starts reading the body of the article. Kudos to 'truly' independent media.
Keeping in mind on how the TV Channels telecast the incidents of three
ministers who view pornography pictures in their cell phones, this
attack was made against the journalists and the TV reporters. Bangalore
city witnessed this scene with the help of Advocates and supporters of
ex-three ministers who lost their posts. A revenge only.
Pretty irresponsible and unprofessional behaviour from so called educated.The people who involved in riot should be brought to justice. Media/Journalist should be ashamed of what they have done. Does Media/Journalist really believe pen is mightier than sword? Advocates who where involved in this should be suspended from BAR council. It is obvious that they cannot uphold law any more.
Riot should be treated as serious offense.Destruction to life and property is never justified for any amount of reasonable emotion. Its good Police watched and waited. Because if Police had acted earlier, both media and advocates will blame Police for human rights violation. If you really want to know how good the cops are, check BHEL incident which happened this week. I appreciate "The Hindu" for being neutral and practiced responsible journalism.
This only proves money is the supreme power, and how the money is accumulated does not matter as the power can take care of it. So the first thing the centre (not Local Govt) needs to do is, frees all kind of assets and money, the freeze should be in place for min of 5yr duration. The accused needs to be tried in court away from the Karnataka and neighboring state (also non BJP ruled), cause it take considerable amount of money to create such disturbance. An example needs to be set.
The Lawyers have no jurisdiction to instruct the press reporters,
lensmen and TV reporters to leave the court hall. Hon'ble Judge
ordered these men to clear out of the court hall. A lawyer is a public
but has come to the court in view of his or her profession. If Lawyers
rampage continues like this , there will no faith with the advocates.
What about the incident in Chennai? Why the Judges at the level of all
courts are silent whenever such lawyers involve in such type of
rampage etc. Why the advocates always target Police on all occasions?
This is a bad precedent. The Central Government should come forward to
sanction LLB courses through correspondence. There are public who want
to qualify LLB through distance education.Once these advocates do not
want to shine well in the field of Law, let the public through
distance education in LLB come for practice in courts.
This incident really shows the poor image that Indian news media carries in general. They are a hated lot even by their own affinity groups like the lawyers, police, politicians and businessmen. Who really thinks that the broadcast/network media deserves respect nowadays... with the kind of standards they have...
Sad but these kind of incidents will only reoccur more frequently in the future.
It was most comical when someone mentioned the "judiciary" does not
believe in their own system. Judiciary? these criminals? bah.. These are
petty rowdies who chose to study law, so they can find the loopholes to
flout law, prop up their shameless, thick-skinned political masters and
get trained for a political career laden with thuggery later on.
This incident Reminds us of incidents in Madras High Court some years ago. We find lawyers publicly taking sides in many case - even before a case has come up before a court.There is need for a strict code of conduct for lawyers - for not indulging in violence, arson, abuse etc on behalf of a client or in a Group. The tragedy in India is Police also is equally lawless on many occasions.
The only Institution which is still maintaining some dignity is the Court - which is also being pressured in many ways by a section of Lawyers as is clear from the unruly scenes mentioned in the article. While no profession is either pure white or pure black - they must condemn the miscreants and cleanse themselves of such elements.
What is happening in our country every day. The incident that happened today is really shameful. There are no words to describe the attack by Advocates on journalists. The freedom of journalists/journalism is being curtailed. This has happened in Madras High Court also earlier. How Advocates, who are said to be officers of court(s), can go to this extent? Do they have not any professional dignity? What does their 'uniform' mean? Just think of the sanctity Courts used to enjoy in the olden days. The degeneration of the Society in every walks of life is reflected here also. GOVERNMENT OR IF THEY DON'T DO, THE COURT(S) SHOULD TAKE PUNITIVE ACTION WHICH SHOULD BE FAR MORE SEVERE THAN WHAT IS GIVEN TO ORDINARY PEOPLE. The comments of respectable Justice Katju are very appropriate.
Firstly I have to identify myself with being a lawyer- loyalist. Majority of the comments made herein have given one sided judgements before even knowing if what is reported is exactly the same that has happened. With media also being a party to the dispute, how/why should the public conclude that lawyers are goondas?..... Is the public not having the capacity to see things in an unbiased way?..... Is it not apt to check the veracity of the media reports?.....
Secondly, what was the need to order for lathi charge against unarmed lawyers? Therefore, it is a logical fallacy to conclude that lawyers are hooligans, goondas, killers, etc etc.....This opinion should go away first to create level playing field.
My first question is what happened to the investigation for the road block the lawyers did on 17th Jan 2012. Common man get no update about this everyone talks for few days and later forgets. Police have to very fast in these cases. They take their good old time. Video footage clearly shows lawyers attacking media with cameras, broadcasting vans etc... What was the necessary to do so; or was this thought to you people in LLB or this is the way you act in court hall. I also see few comments pulling the students of the government college. This is very bad. I am sure he must be a lawyer. Bangalore came to know the level, class or knowledge of lawyer on 17th of Jan 2012. Thank god Mahatma Gandhi is not there to see this. He was also a lawyer he was also the part of the biggest protest he never thought us this. Everyone has a right to protest, there are hundreds of way to protest also why the so called educated people did such act which troubled thousands of people using that road.
There are plenty of lawyers in all political parties. They not only
have the legal process on their side but also the support of political
parties. If the lawyers do not have faith in courts why public are
being fooled to seek legal recourse? They will treat the clients also
in the same way and public cannot go to another lawyer because they
are all united in an association. In India law abiding citizens are
like the herbivores of African jungles. Political parties, if they
condemn this action, will do so only to fool the people because their
core consists of lawyers.
It is unfortunate that all the reports are pointing fingers at advocates. I was a witness to the incidence and it appeared to me that it was a well staged drama by the police for the reasons to them.
it all started as a silly fight between an advocate who was running towards the court due to the delay caused to him in reaching court which appears to bedue to the trafiice jam. While doing so he crossed the barricades of the media person who assaulted him. seeing the same some other advocates at the scene started clash with the media person. in the mean time the public who appeared to be looking like college students started pelting stones (it appeared to me that they had an intention to start the clash) this resulted in the increase of the clash between the advocates and media person who thought the other side/viceversa are trying ti attack them.
It could have been stoped in time if the police would have intervened and seperated both the media and advocates. Instead the police stood
i saw the news channels and it was a pity that journalists were being pelted stones and attacked by lawyers. what is the judiciary doing to tame these jungle-es! it happened in Chennai! Police are always being attacked by these lawyers who are law unto themselves in India and who do not same to know what is discipline, decorum. a noble profession is being turned into rowdy's profession. perhaps we can do without lawyers in court but the lawyers cannot do without public and police. may be in some stray cases there is collusion between the two but at some time or the other this atrocities against press should stop. what is the press doing about it. what is the judiciary doing and has the police not filed criminal cases when visual proof and proof by judges themselves are available!!!!!!!Pity india and pity kalams vision 2020!!!!!!
These black coats have not come from respectable families but from
criminal backgrounds.
Press and Judiciary are regarded as the great pillars of democracy and confrontation of this type among them is unwarranted by any norms. Please don't precipitate matters and bring disgrace to the nation, democracy and BJP. People admire you all if you actively associate and clean Garden City roads by taking broom & Duster.
There is a sudden spurt of violent events in the recent past due to cheap and low level political
elements in the advocate fraternity which cannot be fastened to the entire working professional
community. So, the Law Enforcement Agency must carefully scrutinize and expose these unwanted
elements who are actually mischief mongers in the guise of lawyers and subject them to the legal
proceedings at the earliest.
Before going to comment on advocates please just think once as to whether the act has been done by the advocates or by the supporters of G. Janardhana Reddy. Don't think that police people are good. Because of their third class acts today all these things are happening & no protection to public. See the situation in the Civil Court that all Police personnel are burning the vehicles but the same is no where reported in the media but saying its all the act of advocates. How many real stories you are hiding tell us frankly? Then what we should call you?
Please its enough if it is not possible for you to do something good don't spoil the reputation of others. The reporters who are coming to court are also not fair which i personally saw and i told them frankly to do something which is fair.
I know you will not publish my comments also in your website but its my duty to bring it to your knowledge and its yours responsibility to publish what is fair.
Very sad and distressing that well educated people should resort to such goonda tactics - who was behind this, money mafia or muscle power of the accused, is anyones guess; Govt must ensure stringent action is taken against culprits who can be identified by photos of journalists assembled; even disqualify them from practice, jail them for attack etc; LAW defenders go haywire?! Most pitiable trend in our society; Hope better sense prevails !!
Thank you lawyers and advocates. You have shown us your true colours, the real nature of your upbringing, and the amount of pride you have in your work and in your state, leave alone your country. Thank you for showing us how much we can trust you to be level headed, while upholding something as sacred as the law of this land. We are grateful to you for educating us and for removing any pompous illusions we may have had.
Three important sections are creating disturbence to public.
Why can't we have some mechanism to rein in these rogue lawyers & advocates. They cannot be allowed to be the "law". What was the fault of media persons? They can't be faulted for simply discharging their duties. I only hope some sincere policemen who acted to restore law and order don't get punished in the bargain. However, I have my own doubts. Anything is possible in the present set up in K'taka.
The attack on one of the pillars of democracy puts into question whether the
judiciary can be an effective arm in fighting for the common man.
This incident shows that the judiciary does not have belief in their own system and is
putting the whole system to shame.
Why has the CJ not stepped in and debarred the offending lawyers? The lawyers are
nothing more than stooges of the political parties and robber barons.
There should be an effective mechanism to ensure there is a division between the
Legislative and Judiciary so we can avoid the corrupt lawyers....
("It looks like an all out attack on media because they have been publishing against them") What is this in reference to? (-To THE HINDU-) Why are there no "related articles" listed in reference to this statement?
("Going on the rampage, the lawyers also pelted stones at a government college") This isn't the first time that we see advocates behaving like hooligans. No decent hardworking man behaves this way. These instances make me skeptical about the bar association that grants licenses to such people, perhaps it is their 'standards' that require serious amendments.
It is a pitiable situation of pelting stones by lawyers against police
and media. As lawyers are usually termed as the protectors of law. how can
they act like that? This type of situation is frequently occurring now
a days. The government should pass strict resolutions against the act of
lawyers who were acting against media and police(protector of correct
citizens)
Lawyer -- Read Law-err that is what they are proving lately.
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