Bench Press

Tihar prisoners may be given coolers on humanitarian grounds, but the Delhi High Court thinks reporters should bake in 43 degrees in an exclusive open air press lounge, reports Harish V Nair.

Why are’nt journalists feeling more thankful towards the High Court?

HT Image

After all, the Delhi High Court has finally fulfilled their decade-long wish to sit in a 'press lounge,' and what they express instead of gratitude is shock and humiliation.

You see, what has been earmarked for their “exclusive” use is four red and white stone benches erected on the dusty footpath outside the court complex near gate no.7.

So it turns out legal correspondents don’t really have that much to be thankful for.

Reporters will have to sit for hours in the scorching 44 degree heat. The two court complexes and most of the lawyers' chambers are centrally air-conditioned.

A plastic board fastened to the boundary grills proudly announces: “For accredited journalists only”.

The SC has provided two air-conditioned press lounges.

“This is the same High Court which ordered coolers for Tihar jail prisoners on humanitarian grounds,” said a senior journalist. “But they expect journalists to sit on the footpath outside in 43 degrees heat.”

Mahajan said, “There’s acute shortage of space inside the Court and that’s why we had to put seats outside."

He said the administrative committee of three judges took the decision after the journalists' request was forwarded by the Chief Justice.

He added, “We are trying to find room for the journalists, This arrangement is temporary."