No Gag On Live-Streaming, But Misuse Of Court Clips Worries SC
The court directed that suggestions from the parties and other stakeholders be forwarded to the Solicitor General’s office.
New Delhi:The Supreme Court on Friday said there was no question of gagging or restricting the live-streaming of court proceedings, but expressed concern over the unauthorised use of recordings for personal promotion, commercial gain and misrepresentation.
A three-judge bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana said the misuse of live-streamed hearings had caused immense damage to the institution.
“You have no idea the damage caused to the Bar and Bench and the institution as a whole,” the bench told advocate Mathews J. Nedumpara, who acknowledged sharing video clips on social media.
Nedumpara urged the court not to restrict live-streaming or the sharing of clips.
“This court should be open. In the United States and the United Kingdom, there is no restriction. Judges should not be afraid of criticism, which will always be there,” he submitted.
The CJI said, “All of us agree that there is no question of gagging anything. There is no question of restricting live-streaming.”
He added: “But this kind of misuse, as you have rightly pointed out... Some people are extracting recordings for personal promotion, monetisation, advertising and misrepresentation. These are our areas of concern.”
The bench granted the Centre two weeks to file its reply and proposals after considering suggestions received from various High Courts and other stakeholders. It said it would issue necessary guidelines.
The court directed that suggestions from the parties and other stakeholders be forwarded to the Solicitor General’s office.
Its earlier directions restricting YouTube channels from sharing clips of court proceedings will remain in force until further orders.
The bench was hearing a plea seeking to restrain the unauthorised extraction and monetisation of videos of court proceedings.