This letter I had addressed to the Chief Editor, Malayalam Manorama

This letter I had addressed to the Chief Editor, Malayalam Manorama, way back in 2011 when the allegations of corruption against Chief Justice Balakrishnan was the talk of the town, not merely in the corridors of the bar. The editor told me that since it is about the judiciary, they cannot touch it, for, the threat of contempt hangs over their head like damocle’s sword. What he further said provoked my thought, namely that if the court issues a contempt notice for speaking the truth about judicial corruption, the press will not even get a lawyer to represent them except to tender an unconditional apology. I think over the large ten years things have changed. The press is far emboldened today. It is the social media, the real fourth estate now, which is the reason for the change. But still we have to travel miles more to enjoy the freedom of speech and expression which Article 19 of the constitution guarantees us, which the law of contempt has abrogated.This letter I had addressed to the Chief Editor, Malayalam Manorama, way back in 2011 when the allegations of corruption against Chief Justice Balakrishnan was the talk of the town, not merely in the corridors of the bar. The editor told me that since it is about the judiciary, they cannot touch it, for, the threat of contempt hangs over their head like damocle’s sword. What he further said provoked my thought, namely that if the court issues a contempt notice for speaking the truth about judicial corruption, the press will not even get a lawyer to represent them except to tender an unconditional apology. I think over the large ten years things have changed. The press is far emboldened today. It is the social media, the real fourth estate now, which is the reason for the change. But still we have to travel miles more to enjoy the freedom of speech and expression which Article 19 of the constitution guarantees us, which the law of contempt has abrogated.