Journalists, during the recent media ethics workshop in Thimphu said, they are facing difficulties accessing information from judiciary.
The Journalists Association of Bhutan’s President, Rinzin Wangchuk said judiciary is becoming untouchable. “It is inaccessible to local journalists looking for required information.”
Rinzin Wangchuk questioned the judges present as panellists on how Journalists and Judiciary can work together.
“I don’t think any journalist’s request has been turned down. I haven’t had such a list till now,” said a judge with the Supreme Court, Rinzin Penjor.
He said there is section which states they have a fair trial and that media people have been always attending proceedings starting from district courts to the Supreme Court.
A Chief Judge with the Thimphu District Court, Kinley Namgay said journalists have easy access to judicial information unless the required information falls under subjudice.
“Judiciary also has the code of conduct where judges are not allowed to discuss the cases or to reveal the fact of cases.”
The Chief Judge also said most of the trials in the court are open which allow journalists to attend. However, he cautioned there are chances of media trial.
The two-day media ethics workshop was organized by Department of Information and Media under the Ministry of Information and Communications.
Parliamentarians, judges and journalists and attended the workshop.
