PIL in SC seeks live telecast of key cases

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 18

Asserting that right to receive information is a fundamental right under Article 19 (1) (a) of the Constitution, senior advocate Indira Jaising today moved the Supreme Court, seeking live telecast of important cases, particularly Constitution Bench matters.

A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said the case would be listed in due course even as Jaising submitted, “We will miss out on history being made.” She demanded that pending availability of infrastructure for live-streaming important cases before the Constitution Bench such as Aadhaar, Sabarimala Temple, homosexuality, adultery and Parsi women’s right to equality be recorded and uploaded on its own YouTube channel.

The SC is already seized of a petition by Pradyuman Bisht seeking audio-visual recording of the court proceedings to usher in transparency in functioning of courts. Jaising’s PIL comes two months after the Centre told the SC that video recording had started in trial courts and tribunals in several states with the help of CCTVs installed in courtrooms. The video recording was then described a precursor to bringing live court proceedings to living rooms.

Additional Solicitor General Pinki Anand had on November 23 told the top court that Chhattisgarh had installed CCTVs in trial courts of three districts, while Delhi, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana have the facility in two districts each; Tamil Nadu in five districts and Sikkim in all trial courts.

Tripura, UP, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, HP, Karnataka, Manipur, Bihar and Rajasthan have initiated the process, the ASG had told a Bench headed by Justice AK Goel, adding the ministry supported recording of proceedings.

‘Will increase access to courts’

"Live-streaming of SC cases of national importance will increase access to the courts by enabling citizens who are unable to implead themselves as parties and whose rights may be affected to understand the reasoning behind the top court’s judgment." Indira Jaising, Senior advocate