LIVE PROCEEDINGS OF COURT NEED OF THE HOUR, SAYS SC

Observing that “it was the need of the hour”, the Supreme Court on Monday indicated that it was open to the suggestion for live telecast of proceedings as it would ensure transparency and make “access to justice” by a litigant a reality.

A bench of CJI Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud said live streaming of court proceedings would help litigant instantaneously know what happened to his case and how his/ her advocate presented the case.

The CJI said, “Livestreaming and recording of court proceedings will help the public know instantly about the important developments in the court.”

Observing that “it was the need of the hour”, the Supreme Court on Monday indicated that it was open to the suggestion for live telecast of proceedings as it would ensure transparency and make ‘access to justice’ by a litigant a reality.

A bench of CJI Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud said live streaming of court proceedings would help litigant instantaneously know what happened to his case and how his/ her advocate presented the case. The CJI said, “This would ensure transparency and further serve public interest. Live-streaming and recording of court proceedings will help the public know instantly about the important developments in the court.” Justice Chandrachud observed “litigant will know how his case is being handled and disposed off by the court; how his lawyer is arguing the case, whether he is seeking adjournment on some pretext or not. This will also help law students as it would become a class room for learning.”

When the CJI said “we may begin this experiment from hear, the A-G K.K. Venugopal agreed and said the experiment must start soon from the CJI’s court and depending upon its functioning for a month, it can be extended to other court halls in the apex court.