Assembly session ends- `Government trying its best to resolve media-lawyer tiff'

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The failure to solve the stand-off between a section of advocates and journalists has brought shame to judiciary, legislature and executive in the state, law minister A K Balan said on the last day of the session of the 14th assembly session on Wednesday.
Replying to debates on the Kerala advocates welfare fund (amendment) bill, 2016, the minister said the government was trying its best to find a solution to the obstructions posed by a section of advocates against reporting of court proceedings, but the government has its own limitations.“We have restrictions. The issue cannot be solved through a government order,“ he said.
The house passed the Advocate Clerk Welfare Board Act (Amendment) Bill which ensures stipened for junior advocates and retirement benefits to lawyers and their clerks.
The 14th session witnessed stormy political scenes --the fasting of opposition MLAs against self-financing medical college fees hike and resignation of E P Jayarajan from the Pinarayi government--in the first half of the session. However, the government slowly regained its strength in the second half.
During this session, the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund (amendment)Bill 2016 and the amendment bill on Paddy Land and Wetland Bill were the two major legislation exercises carried out by the house. After the completion of the assembly proceedings of the day, Speaker Sreeramakrishnan adjourned the house sine die.