Livestreaming of proceedings can be started on pilot basis: Govt to SC

NEWDELHI: The Centre on Friday suggested to the Supreme Court that live streaming of proceedings could be started as a pilot project in the court of the Chief Justice of India and in Constitution Bench matters.

Attorney General KK Venugopal submitted a slew of suggestions to the CJI Dipak Misraheaded bench, which supported the idea. The CJI put down opposition by a civil society group, saying: “We don’t perceive any difficulty in live streaming. Let us first start with it and see how it goes.”

The AG said live streaming would ensure courts are decongested. “The success of this project will determine whether or not live streaming should be introduced in all courts ,” he said.

But he clarified that live streaming should not be permitted in matrimonial matters, matters involving interests of juveniles or protection and safety of the private life of young offenders, cases involving national security and matters relating to sexual assault. Cases that could provoke sentiment and arouse passion or provoke enmity among communities should also be excluded. “With this (live streaming), lawyers will have to be careful about how they address the court and dress because people outside can make fun of lawyers,” he said.

At this, senior advocate Indira Jaising, who had petitioned the court for live streaming, asked the bench to issue practice guidelines and make it compulsory for lawyers to adhere to them.

Apprehensions raised by NGO, Centre For Accountability and Systemic Change, were brushed aside. When advocate Virag Gupta said there was a risk of manufacturing fake news from clips of proceedings, Justice DY Chandrachud said the situation was “worse today.” “Don’t you read what is written in newspapers the next day? There is live tweeting of our comments and during lunch time we get to read every comment made by us on various websites,” he said.

ATTORNEY GENERAL SUBMITS A SLEW OF SUGGESTIONS TO THE CJIHEADED BENCH, WHICH SUPPORTS IDEA