Live Streaming

Supreme Court of India

Swapnil Tripathi vs Supreme Court Of India on 26 September, 2018

Author: A Khanwilkar

8. Indubitably, live streaming of Court proceedings has the potential of throwing up an option to the

public to witness live court proceedings which they otherwise could not have due to logistical issues

and infrastructural restrictions of Courts; and would also provide them with a more direct sense of

what has transpired. Thus, technological solutions can be a tool to facilitate actualization of the right

of access to justice bestowed on all and the litigants in particular, to provide them virtual entry in

the Court precincts and more particularly in Court rooms. In the process, a large segment of

persons, be it entrants in the legal profession, journalists, civil society activists, academicians or

students of law will be able to view live proceedings in propria persona on real time basis. There is

unanimity between all the protagonists that live streaming of Supreme Court proceedings at least in

respect of cases of Constitutional and national importance, having an impact on the public at large

or on a large number of people in India, may be a good beginning, as is suggested across the Bar.

9. Live streaming of Court proceedings is feasible due to the advent of technology and, in fact, has

been adopted in other jurisdictions across the world. Live streaming of Court proceedings, in one

sense, with the use of technology is to “virtually” expand the Court room area beyond the physical

four walls of the Court rooms. Technology is evolving with increasing swiftness whereas the law and

the courts are evolving at a much more measured pace. This Court cannot be oblivious to the reality

that technology has the potential to usher in tangible and intangible benefits which can consummate

the aspirations of the stakeholders and litigants in particular. It can epitomize transparency, good

Swapnil Tripathi vs Supreme Court Of India on 26 September, 2018

Indian Kanoon - http://indiankanoon.org/doc/43629806/ 4

governance and accountability, and more importantly, open the vista of the court rooms,

transcending the four walls of the rooms to accommodate a large number of viewers to witness the

live Court proceedings. Introducing and integrating such technology into the courtrooms would give

the viewing public a virtual presence in the courtroom and also educate them about the working of

the court.