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Synopsis

The Gujarat High Court Advocates Association has written to the Chief Justice raising the issue that live-streamed proceedings of the courts are being misused and shared on social media platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

The representation calls attention to Rule 4 of the Gujarat High Court (Live Streaming of Court Proceedings) Rules, 2021, which mentions different cases which ought not to be live-streamed. The Association states that for example, cases including matrimonial disputes, instances of offences of sexual assault, and cases under the POCSO Act, are being live-streamed and unauthorisedly being utilized by different people.

The Association has written to the Chief Justice to take suo motu cognizance of such cases and issue contempt notice against the ones violating the rules.

The letter states that videos are being used by "various persons on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram for commercial and entertainment purposes and with oblique motives”. 

It further states that the videos are being “taken out of context and uploaded with highly inappropriate tagline with hashtags".

As per Rule 5 of the Gujarat High Court (Live Streaming of Court Proceedings) Rules, 2021, the Advocates Association submits that the high court will have copyright over any live feeds and recordings it streams, forbidding any unauthorised duplication.

The body has suggested including a disclaimer regarding the rules while live streaming the court proceedings.

[Source: The Indian Express]