KOCHI: With the standoff triggered by the attack of media persons by advocates spreading to Thiruvananthapuram from Kochi, senior lawyers have reacted saying that such incidents should have been avoided and urged the government to initiate steps to end the conflict.
Reacting to the violence, Adv C P Udayabhanu said, “the attack against media persons should not have happened, and the crisis should not be allowed escalate. While abstaining from court proceedings, advocates should remember that they are rendering paid services to their clients. How many litigants would have suffered today, because of the advocates’ abstention from courts?. The journalists were doing their job. The advocates should find a legal solution for their grievance. The incidents show that advocates themselves do not have faith in the rule of law. The advocate-media clash will create a feeling of insecurity among the common man.”
Former MP Adv Sebastian Paul said the attack on media persons was highly deplorable and unjustifiable. “The two pillars of the Constitution should function hand-in-hand. Advocates should always be aware of their responsibility.
“The incident gives a wrong message to society. Another serious issue that needs to be considered is that it was a news report that prompted the advocates to resort to violence. If the advocates had any objection to the news report, there were other ways to react.”
According to Adv Sivan Madathil, it is the first time in the history of the State such and incident occurred. “A probe should be launched to find what had led to the standoff. Advocates of the new generation should refrain from reacting emotionally. Meanwhile, the government should take steps to constitute a high-level committee to probe the incident, with representatives of judiciary, police, government and media as members.
Adv A Jayasankar said, “the incidents witnessed on the court premises cannot be justified. It is the first time such incidents happening in a court. Advocates have the responsibility to ensure the rule of law and not to take law into their hands.”