Journalists have been barred from entering the court room of the Appellate Division headed by the chief justice, raising concerns among legal reporters about restrictions on court coverage.
On 7 January, when journalists tried to enter the Appellate Division to collect news on case hearings, security personnel prevented them from entering. Since then, journalists have been unable to be present to follow case proceedings and hearings in the Appellate Division.
Journalists say this unwritten obstruction by the Supreme Court administration has disrupted the ongoing practice of news gathering at the country’s highest court.
According to them, news gathering from the Appellate Division is essential to maintain the continuity of news related to High Court cases.
When leaders of the Law Reporters Forum (LRF), an organisation of journalists working at the Supreme Court, spoke to the Registrar General about the matter, he expressed optimism that the issue would be resolved soon.
When contacted, Supreme Court Registrar General and Acting Secretary of the Supreme Court Secretariat, Muhammad Habibur Rahman Siddiqui, told TIMES that he was unable to comment on the matter.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Syed Mamun Mahbub told TIMES that if journalists are being obstructed from entering the court room of the Appellate Division, it would be extremely regrettable.
Newspapers are the fourth pillar of the state. Since the judiciary has no spokesperson, if access to the court is closed for journalists in important cases, misleading information will increase, which will go on to harm the judiciary, he said.
For security reasons, a system of issuing cards or checking identity cards could be implemented, but completely stopping journalists’ entry would not be right, the lawyer added.
He said the move was deeply regrettable and called for the decision to be reviewed.
Law Reporters Forum General Secretary Maniruzzaman Mission said the restriction was the latest in a series of incidents that he said had hindered journalists’ ability to work and express themselves.
