Following several incidents of media being attacked inside the court rooms in Kerala, Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has warned lawyers of stern action if they continue to obstruct journalists from carrying out their duty freely.

“The problem was once settled after the intervention of Chief Justice of Kerala High Court. But some lawyers think that it was not applicable to them. If they still indulge in violence against journalists who go to court for reporting, government will take stern action against them,” CM said.

Pinarayi was replying to Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala in the state assembly, as he brought the issue to the house’s attention through a submission.

CM was responding to the incident in which four reporters including women journalists were manhandled by lawyers in Vanchiyoor, Thiruvananthapuram court, even after Chief Justice resolved the conflict between lawyers and journalists.

The CM named the journalists who were attacked and the lawyers who allegedly attacked them, and said that cases filed against both the groups will be probed.

Chennithala blamed the government stating that if it had interfered in the issue earlier it wouldn’t have turned worse. He also asked the government to withdraw the case against women journalists by saying that such incidents amounted to curbing the freedom of press.