Administrative Reforms Committee Chairman VS Achuthanandan said on Tuesday that the lawyer fraternity was brining shame to the state.

On the occasion of Kerala Piravi, the CPI (M) veteran spoke about the ongoing ban on media persons in courts across Kerala.

He lashed out at the lawyer fraternity, accusing them of restricting the entry of media persons in court.

“Those who are supposed to ensure law and justice in the state are now obstructing the freedom of the press,” Achuthanandan said.

“The act of the advocates has brought shame to the entire state,” the former Chief Minister said in the assembly.

Saying that the ban on media persons by a section of lawyers cannot be justified, he added that it was also absurd to hinder freedom of the press, more so because the country has always fought for it.

Achuthanandan said that the ban was against the democratic system of the country and that this episode will be a setback to the state in the future.

“Even after the chief justice of the high court made it clear that there was no ban on journalists, the media in the state are not able to enter courts,” VS was quoted as saying.