In a first, the Supreme Court of India is set to broadcast its proceedings live on Friday. The move comes on the day Chief Justice of India NV Ramana retired.
“Please note that on the eve of the Office of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, the proceedings of the Hon’ble Chief Justice’s Court, i.e. Ceremonial Bench, August 26, 2022, at 10:30 AM. Thereafter live-streamed through the webcast portal of NIC, A notification of the Supreme Court said.
On the day of retirement, the Chief Justice of India shares the bench with his successor, CJI-designated CJI U U Lalit. Justice Hima Kohli will also be part of the bench as the CJI’s court sits with a combination of three judges. Sources told The Indian Express that a decision to institutionalize live-streaming would be taken soon.
In 2018, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court allowed live streaming of matters of “constitutional or national importance before a Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court”, citing the concept of open court. Attorney General KK Venugopal, who has telecast the court proceedings live, also formulated “Comprehensive Guidelines for Live Streaming of Court Proceedings in the Supreme Court”.
Currently, six of the 25 high courts – Gujarat, Orissa, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Patna and Madhya Pradesh – broadcast their proceedings live on YouTube.
