New Delhi/Ahmedabad: We are keen to start live proceedings at least for some of the courts in the supreme court, said Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice N V Ramana at the launch of live-streaming of the proceedings of High Court of Gujarat today.

He added, “We are working out the logistics and working on consensus of the full court. With the aid of modern technologies, I
am given to understand that we can introduce this live streaming feature in a cost effective manner without imposing much of a
burden on the exchequer.”

He pointed out that The Committee under the leadership of Brother Chandrachud is playing a wonderful role in bringing all the courts on board to unleash the transparency revolution with the aid of modern technology.

CJI while favoring the live streaming of courts said, “It may be noted that not all cases may be of interest to the public. People may want to follow the arguments of the lawyers and observations of the bench only in certain cases, such as those that involve Constitutional interpretation or attract public attention. Currently, the public obtains information about Court proceedings through the media. In effect, the information from the courts is being filtered by agents of transmission. In the process, there is sometimes a transmission loss leading to misinterpretation of questions asked and observations made by the bench, due to the absence of context. Vested interests are eager to amplify these misinterpretations in order to embarrass or discredit the institution. It is this lack of direct access which gives space for misconceptions. The formalisation of the live streaming of court proceedings is the best cure for the aforesaid malady. Livestreaming of proceedings is crucial for dissemination of information which is a sacrosanct aspect of Article 19. Through such direct access, the people can get first-hand information about the entire proceedings and the opinions of the judges, leaving little room for any mischief.”

At the same time, while pointing out the flip side of live streaming, CJI said, “although a step in the right direction, one must tread the path with caution. At times, live streaming of proceedings may become a double edged sword. However, judges might feel the
pressure of public scrutiny, which may ultimately result in a stressful environment that may not be conducive to justice
dispensation. A judge must remember, even if justice commands standing up against the popular perception, he must do so out of
his commitment to the oath he took under the Constitution. A judge cannot be swayed by popular opinion. Yes, with increased
public gaze, he might become a subject of multiple debates, that should never deter him from his duty to protect the right of one
against the might of many. Always remember, as a repository of people’s faith, a judge cannot afford lose objectivity.
8. Similarly, with the increasing access, lawyers should not go after publicity, rather they must ensure to put in all possible efforts
to protect the best interests of his clients. They must always uphold and maintain the dignity of the profession.
9. Another aspect that must be taken into consideration is the privacy of the parties involved and ensure the safety and security
of the victims and witnesses. Therefore, it is imperative to carefully calibrate the Rules governing such live-streaming by keeping in
view the competing interests.”

The Supreme Cout Justice Chandrachood who heads e-committee in apex court in his address said, “Chief Justice of India is equally keen on live streaming. He has been constantly engaging with me as chair person of e-committee, asking questions, probing us, encouraging us. And I am sure that what is begun as new initiative by the Gujarat High Court will now become a countrywide feature. As Chief Justice of Gujarat Vikramnath said, it will trickle down and it will trickle horizontally and it will trickle up as well I hope.”

The Gujarat High Court (Live Streaming of Court Proceedings) Rules, 2021

The Gujarat High Court (Liv… by DeshGujarat

DeshGujarat