SC Approves Live-Streaming of Court Proceedings

• 27 Sep 2018

The Supreme Court has pushed for greater transparency in the judicial system by allowing live-streaming of court proceedings of cases of constitutional importance.

• The court directed the centre to frame rules for this and said the project will be carried out in phases.
• The three-judge bench agreed that it would serve as an instrument for greater accountability and it formed a part of the Code of Criminal Procedure and Code of Civil Procedure.
  • No such express provision is found in the Constitution regarding “open Court hearing” before the Supreme Court, but can be traced to provisions such as Section 327 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) and Section 153-B of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC).
  • Section 327 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (CrPC) states that the place in which any Criminal Court is held for the purpose of inquiring into or trying any offence shall be deemed to be an open Court.
  • Section 153-B of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC) states the place in which any Civil Court is held for the purpose of trying any suit shall be deemed to be an open Court.
• The SC asked the government to frame “comprehensive and holistic guidelines” and favoured the start of exercise on pilot basis in one court.
• Earlier in July, the apex court called it the "need of the hour", saying it was open to live-streaming as this would result in increased access to justice.