The Kerala High Court Judge Justice Devan Ramachandran recently stated that he relies on press reports to understand the various views and opinions of Indian citizens regarding the court’s orders and observations.
According to Justice Ramachandran, without the press, the judiciary would be ineffective in reaching the public because its decisions would only be seen in law journals.
“I rely on the press to know the pulse of the people and I always say, our orders and judgments are worthless unless people know about it. In case the press boycotts the judiciary or refuses to report, our judgments will only be remaining in the reporting journals. All the judgments that are being talked about got attention because of the press. This is the importance of the press. When the public opinion is aroused, we know we are within law. The same apples to the legislature and executive,“ he remarked.
However, referring to the recent development of virtual courts as a result of the covid-19 pandemic, which has further opened up courtrooms, the judge stated that the press and public scrutiny have made judges’ jobs more difficult.
Justice Ramachandran was speaking on the “Importance of Press in Democratic India” at the inauguration of the Kozhikode Press Club’s Golden Jubilee function.
He emphasized at the outset of his speech that the press, particularly in a country with a large population like India, provides a forum for many people to voice their concerns and worries, making the power granted to the people by the Indian Constitution effective. The judge claimed that without it, only a small number of voices would be heard.
He issued a warning against outlawing or restricting press freedom, citing the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia, which spurred the Arab Spring, as a prime example of how to do so.
“Every news that you carry, every information that you report, you are creating a dialogue. The importance of dialogue cannot be understood. Imagine a situation, where the press is banned or quarantined, it will be a case where we have no idea what we want and the executive will have no idea what the public wants. This will give rise to revolts and revolutions. If you see, the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia, how that developed as the people could not reflect their views,” he continued.
He added that the fourth pillar, which the press itself is, is what supports the nation’s stability.
“We call the press the 4th pillar because we understand the power of the sovereign- the popular sovereign are divided into three pillars, the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. But no stool with three legs can be stable, we need the fourth leg, the press. It is the leg which stabilises the entire system. This is the importance of press, sometimes we don’t really recognise much. The stability of a nation like India depends on the press- this is why I say press itself is a democracy,” he further stated.
Throughout his speech, Justice Ramachandran was complimentary about the Indian press, opining that regardless of India’s position in the Press Freedom Index, the Indian press has done an outstanding job as “carriers of the nation.”
According to the most recent Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, India is ranked 150th out of 180 countries.
