Draft Model Rules for Live-streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings

The e-Committee, Supreme Court of India envisages a judicial system that is more accessible, efficient, and equitable for every individual who engages with the justice delivery system. The right to access justice, guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, encompasses the right to access live court proceedings. To imbue greater transparency, and inclusivity and foster access to justice, the e-Committee has undertaken the project of live-streaming court proceedings on priority. This will enable access to live court proceedings, including on matters of public interest to citizens, journalists, civil society, academicians, and law students on a real-time basis, which was not otherwise possible owing to geographical, logistical, or infrastructural issues.

The draft model rules have taken into account the principles enunciated in the decision of the Supreme Court in Swapnil Tripathi v Supreme Court of India (2018) 10 SCC 639, including the concerns of privacy and confidentiality of litigants and witnesses, matters relating to business confidentiality, prohibition or restriction of access to proceedings or trials stipulated by Central or State legislation and in some cases to preserve the larger public interest owing to the sensitivity of the case. These draft model rules provide a balanced regulatory framework for live streaming and recording of court proceedings.

The e-Committee, Supreme Court of India, has invited inputs, feedback and suggestions on the Draft Model Rules for Live-Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings.