Will all Court proceedings on camera soon?

The Supreme Court on Monday appeared open to the audio and video recording of its proceedings, which it has resisted so far, along with those of high courts, saying it would usher in transparency in the justice delivery system.

It put forward these views as it ordered all 24 high courts to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in trial courts across the country and asked the government to consider the same for tribunals. “Constitutional courts in other countries have audio and video recordings. It is not a matter of privacy of judges,” a bench of justice AK Goel and justice UU Lalit said.

The US supreme court recorded its proceedings and those were available on social media platforms, they said.

If the bench sticks to its views then all court proceedings in the country would be recorded as the SC had on March 28 asked states to install cameras, but without audio recordings, in courts in at least two of their districts. Now, it has expanded the order to cover all lower courts while allowing audio to be recorded.

Appearing for the government, additional solicitor general Maninder Singh reminded the top court that its e-committee, responsible for information technology matters, was against recording. “But that is a decision on the administrative side, justice Goel said. A court of record meant each and everything should be recorded as long as didn’t impede the proceedings, justice Lalit added. The court did not give any order in writing and said it would take up the matter again after a month. The court’s March 28 decision had come after a petitioner in a matrimonial dispute sought audio-video recording of the proceedings and challenged a Punjab and Haryana HC order to remove CCTVs from a Gurgaon court.