Advocates-media clash PIL adjourned

The high court has adjourned to Thursday a batch of petitions seeking disciplinary proceedings against media for allegedly defaming the legal fraternity over the March 2 violence at the City Civil Court complex.

Besides seeking action against the media, the batch of public interest litigations seek action against police for allegedly beating advocates on March 2. The case came up for hearing before a division bench headed by Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen.
Acting on the court’s directive, electronic media submitted unedited footage of the March 2 mayhem to the court.

The HC observed that the footage should be kept in a sealed cover.

The high court asked why the police did not take any action against the heads of news channels that broadcast the false news that a constable died at the hands of advocates on March 2.

Further, the court asked the state government the reason it did not act against the policemen who were photographed beating up advocates.

Senior counsel Uday Holla, representing Advocates’ Association of Bangalore, said the investigation of the issue should be handed over to the CBI.

Advocate general S Vijay Shankar said the evidence that was submitted to establish the police’s alleged atrocities was in the form of photographs taken from low-resolution cameras of mobile phones and the pictures were not clear.