Editorial
Journalists' access to court-room
It serves people's right to know
IT is difficult to understand why the press was not allowed to cover first-hand the hearing of a petition on the High Court's stay order on the Dhaka-10 by-election. We heard that some noise inside the courtroom on the day the writ was filed prompted the restrictions on the scribes who were but part of a bigger audience in the room. Perhaps a word of caution would have helped.We must not forget that the relationship between the judiciary and the free media has been close and mutually rewarding. They play a very significant mutually reinforcing role in establishing a free and just society. The main task of the judiciary is to establish accountability and transparency and the independent media plays a complementary role in it. Whenever journalists came under attack, judiciary supported the media when the matter was brought to its attention. The judiciary sometimes issued suo motto ruling taking cognizance of news reports. When slum dwellers had gathered around the premises of the High Court to press some point, the media brought it under focus so that they were persuaded to disperse. The independent media did not hesitate to condemn the behaviour of some eminent law practitioners who created a bedlam at the court premises and even kicked on the door of the Chief Justice's chamber. That's how the relationship between the two sides developed over the years. We hope that this wouldn't be a blanket decision and that the learned judge will reconsider his decision and give access to the journalists inside the courtroom. In fact, in this particular case, the need for journalistic access is even greater having regard to the fact that the hearing was on an election that involved the people's right to vote and our collective concern for a free and fair election in a functioning democracy.
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