Supreme Court allows live streaming of court proceedings

The Supreme Court of India on 26th September 2018 held that the Court proceedings shall be live-streamed, and video recorded in the larger public interest. The final judgment was rendered by a Bench of Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud. The petitions were filed by Senior Advocate Indira Jaising, law student Snehil Tripathi to allow legal interns more access to courtroom proceedings and an NGO ‘Centre For Accountability and Systemic Change’ for public and parties subject to necessary regulations. As a pilot project, the SC has pronounced that only specified category of cases or cases of constitutional and national importance being argued before the constitutional bench would be live streamed. The Supreme court also added that the cases pertaining to sexual offences and matrimonial dispute shall be excluded. The Supreme Court said “Sunlight is the best disinfectant, let people get firsthand information about what is going on in Courtroom proceedings,” while allowing live streaming of the court proceedings. The law and judicial processes are confusing to most citizens who have no legal training and this judgement will help reduce misinformation and misunderstanding about the judicial process that the general public conceives. Thereby bringing more transparency and trust in the Judicial system.