KOCHI: The Press Council of India (PCI) has issued notice to the Chief Secretary and Registrar of the Kerala High Court on a complaint filed by former MP Sebastian Paul, seeking the Council’s intervention in the issue of mediapersons being prevented from reporting court proceedings in the State. The notice issued by PCI secretary Punam Sibbal stated, “the series of attacks unleashed by lawyers against mediapersons on and around the Kerala High Court premises and the Vanchiyoor Court in Thiruvananthapuram, from July 19 to 21, have come to the notice of the Press Council. It has also been noticed that mediapersons have been prevented from entering the court premises, both the High Court and District Courts, in Kerala from July 19.”
According to the PCI, prima-facie it is a matter concerning media freedom, and the statute mandates the Press Council to preserve the freedom of the press. The Press Council also sought a status report within two weeks from the Chief Secretary and the High Court Registrar to enable it to decide on the future course of action. Sebastian Paul in his petition had submitted that mediapersons were being prevented from reporting court proceedings in the State.