Where Angels Fear to Tread ?

 

 

Context :

Draft Rules for Live-Streaming Court Proceedings  /  09 June 2021

Extract :

§  Draft Rules

o    Telecast of Proceedings

All proceedings in high courts can be telecast except for cases relating to matrimonial disputes, gender-based violence, those involving minors and “cases, which in the opinion of the Bench, may provoke enmity amongst communities likely to result in a breach of law and order”.

 

o    Deciding Authority 

The final decision as to whether or not to allow the Live-streaming of the Proceedings or any portion thereof will be of the Bench, however, the decision of the Bench will be guided by the principle of an open and transparent judicial process.

            The decision of the Bench shall not be justiciable.

 

o    Allow Objections 

The rules allow for objections to be filed against live streaming in specific cases at the stage of filing of the case or at a later stage.

 

o    Record of Proceedings 

The draft rules allow for archiving of court proceedings for six months.

             The use of authorised recordings in their original form may be

             permitted by the court, inter-alia to disseminate news and for

             training, academic and educational purposes.

                  

 

o    Restrictions

             Discussion amongst judges, notes made by judges during

            hearings or communication  between the advocate and her

            client will neither be telecast live nor archived

                    

             The rules also prohibit recording or sharing the telecast on

             media platforms, including social media and messaging platforms,

             unless authorised by the court.

                   

              Recordings will not be used for commercial, promotional

              purposes or advertising in any  form.

                   

 

Dear Supreme Court,

 

You have sought responses from stakeholders and the general public

I have already expressed my “  Reservations “  re: viability of this initiative, vide my following earlier  e-mails :

Ø  Live Streaming of Court Proceedings ………….[ 09 Nov 2020 ] 

  { contains an alternative }

 

Earlier, you have also “  ordered “  installation of CCTV cameras in all Police Stations / offices of CBI – NIA – ED etc

Here too, I have expressed “ unviability “ of this order , through my following e-mail :

Ø  Supreme Surveillance Solution ? …………………..[ 05 Dec 2020 ]

 

Whereas “  Transparency “  in dealings of the Government Officers vis-à-vis general public, is highly desirable, I recommend a long-drawn out , stage-wise approach

The “ highly undesirable attitude “ towards members of the public ( especially the dreaded  “ Third Degree “ method of obtaining “ confessions “ ) which has become ( almost ) “  institutionalized “ over past 70 years, is difficult to change overnight . If a sudden change is forced, there will be attempts to sabotage the  hardware / software / the system

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  22 June 2021

Related Readings :

https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s388ef51f0bf911e452e8dbb1d807a81ab/uploads/2021/06/2021060752.pdf