Court cautions media against speculation on Ayodhya verdict

LUCKNOW - The Lucknow bench of Allahabad high Court Tuesday firmly told the media Tuesday to shun speculation on the much-awaited Ayodhya verdict scheduled to be delivered Sep 30.

In the larger interest of security and safety of the litigants, they have been advised to keep away from the court premises on judgment day.

In an 11-point guideline issued by the high court registrar Tuesday evening, media has been advised not to speculate about the court order until a copy of the operative part of the order is made available to them.

Entry to the court room in which the judgment is to be pronounced would be restricted only to the parties and their respective counsel against special entry passes.

Even the court staff not directly connected with the Ayodhya case will not be allowed to step inside the court room, the registrar said.

As for the media, the district administration has been asked to make special arrangement for dissemination of the court order to the media in the district collectorate premises just across the road.

A special website www.allahabadhighcourt.in/ayodhyabench.html, has been created to ensure prompt availability of the operative part as well as the overall order in the case.

The court has also banned cellphones inside that court room and lawyers have been advised to deposit their cellphones outside before entering the court room, the guideline said.

The registrar advised lawyers who do not have listed cases on that date to avoid coming to the court. In any case, the general entry to the court premises would be allowed only against passes issued by the Oudh Bar Association, the registrar said.

Vehicle parking, except that for the judges, has been banned inside the court premises. Separate arrangements for parking were being made for vehicles belonging to the court staff and lawyers, the registrar said.