Live streaming of HCs, lower courts: SC seeking inputs
JUSTICE CHANDRACHUD has written to the Chief Justices of all HCs to share inputs and suggestions for the better implementation of the live-streaming of court across India
New Delhi: The Supreme Court’s e-committee, headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, on Monday released the draft model rules for live streaming and recording of the proceedings of the high courts, subordinate courts and tribunals falling under their respective jurisdiction, inviting suggestions and inputs before June 30 from all stakeholders. Releasing the 20-age document, Justice Chandrachud said, “Right of access to justice includes right to access live court proceedings.”
The Supreme Court’s eCommittee, headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, on Monday, released the draft model rules for live streaming and recording of the proceedings of the high courts and the subordinate courts and tribunals falling under their respective jurisdiction inviting suggestions and inputs before June 30 from all stakeholders. Releasing the 20-page document, Justice Chandrachud said, “Right of access to justice includes right to access live court proceedings.”
Justice Chandrachud has written to the Chief Justices of all HCs to share inputs and suggestions for the better implementation of the live-streaming of court proceedings across India. The SC has already started live-streaming of its proceedings for accredited
journalists since last month. A press release issued by the e-Committee “envisages a judicial system which is more accessible, efficient, and equitable for every individual who engages with the justice delivery system” and that “the right of access to justice, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution encompasses the right to access live court proceedings.”
It said the project of streaming of court proceedings was undertaken on priority so that access to proceedings, including on matters of public interest to citizens, journalists, civil society, academicians, and law students on a real time basis is enabled.
The rules will come into force from the date notified by the concerned high court and the streaming, as per the draft rules, will be with a delay of 10 minutes.
As regards the content of recordings, they will be vetted and posted, usually within three days on the conclusion of the proceedings on the court’s website or made available on digital platforms.
The draft rules are based on the recommendations of a sub-committee comprising the judges of Delhi, Bombay, Madras, and Karnataka HCs set up to frame the rules. Nine kinds of proceedings will be excluded from live-streaming and these include matrimonial matters, cases concerning sexual offences or gender-based violence against women, matters concerning children, incamera proceedings, cases which in the court’s opinion provoke enmity among the communities, recording of evidence including cross-examination, and privileged communications between the parties and their advocates.
The recordings shall be made even when the proceedings are not livestreamed for use by the court and the appellate courts. Audio-video recording of proceedings by any other means, beyond the mandate of the rules, is expressly prohibited. So as to decongest the court rooms, dedicated rooms shall be made available for viewing the live-stream within the court premises, access to which shall be given to law researchers, staff, litigants, academicians, and media personnel authorised to enter the court premises and which will enable viewing of the live-stream from multiple benches.