The Centre on Monday informed the Supreme Court that it favoured live-streaming of hearings by Constitution Benches and CJI Court Number 1, on experimental basis.
Attorney General K K Venugopal told a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud that initially a screen could be installed in a hall where lawyers not appearing in the matter but nevertheless interested, as also interns, could sit and watch. It will help reduce crowding in the courtroom, he said.
The apex court had on 9 February sought Venugopal’s assistance while dealing with separate petitions filed by senior counsel Indira Jaising and Swapnil Tripathi.
Jaising sought the live streaming and videotaping of court hearings on issues of national importance that have a bearing on a large section of people, and also wanted “all safeguards” to be put in place to ensure that there was “no commercial use” of the recordings.
She said citizens have the right to information and matters of constitutional and national importance 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.
If live streaming of the top court’s proceedings is not possible, then video recording should be allowed, she said. 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.
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. The plea, filed by Swapnil Tripathi, a student of National Law University in Jodhpur, has asked for requisite guidelines to facilitate interns to witness proceedings.