‘Constitutional matters heard by CJI can be live streamed’
Centre tells Supreme Court
Video recording and live streaming of judicial proceedings can be undertaken on a trial basis in constitutional matters being heard by the chief justice of India’s court, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Monday.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra was told by Attorney General K K Venugopal, whose assistance has been sought by the court in the matter, that a pilot project for live streaming and video recording of judicial proceedings could be undertaken.
Venugopal then said functioning of the pilot project could be later analysed and made more efficient.
He added that live streaming could be undertaken on an experimental basis for one-three months to ascertain how it functions technologically.
The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, asked all the parties, including senior advocate Indira Jaising, who had filed a PIL in her personal capacity, to give suggestions to the attorney general of India.
It said Venugopal would collate and compile the suggestions and submit them to the court which will later approve them.
The bench has now fixed the matter for further hearing on July 30.
On July 9, the apex court had termed the proposal of live streaming of court proceedings the “need of the hour” and sought suggestions for taking a “holistic” view on the matter.
The bench was of the view that barring few exceptions like hearings in a rape case, the courts are already open for all and allowing live streaming of the proceedings would further establish the settled principle.
Jaising, in her plea, has sought live streaming of matters of constitutional and national importance. She said citizens have the right to information and issues of constitutional and national significance can be live streamed.
In western countries, she said, this system was in place and live streaming of court proceedings, including that of the International Court of Justice, are available on Youtube.
A petition, filed by a law student, has also sought a direction for setting up live streaming rooms within the apex court premises and granting access to legal interns.