Audio Transcription, providing links in cause list: Sr Adv Indira Jaising' suggestions on live streaming before Supreme COurt

The Supreme Court today took note of various suggestions made by Senior Advocate Indira Jaising on the live-streaming of important cases.

CJI Chandrachud then directed Jaising to place a comprehensive note before Secretary General so that it is taken into account when modalities of live-streaming are being formulated.

Notably, the senior counsel submitted before the bench also comprising Justices Narasimha and Pardiwala that links to the video hearings could be added in the cause list to enable access, important matters of the moment could be live streamed and audio transcription of submissions should be allowed for archiving the same.

"These suggestions may be provided to the Secretary General, since the matter is already taken up on the administrative side", the bench order after hearing the senior counsel.

Notably, on Friday, in the plea seeking to set up a uniform platform for live-streaming of court proceedings, the Supreme Court had directed the petitioner-in-person, Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara to give suggestions to the Secretary General of the Supreme Court as the matter is already being considered on the administrative side.

In October 2022, the Supreme Court had issued notice on a petition which sought directions to retain the copyright of the Supreme Court over the live-stream of videos uploaded on YouTube.

While considering the plea, the then CJI, Justice UU Lalit had remarked that Supreme Court was trying to have its own platform for live-streaming.

Notably, in June 2021, the e-Committee of the Supreme Court had released the Draft Model Rules for Live-Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings with the aim to imbue greater transparency, inclusivity and foster access to justice.

Justice DY Chandrachud, then a Supreme Court Judge and Chairperson of e-Committee, had also written a letter to all Chief Justices of the High court calling for the inputs and suggestions on the Draft Model Rules. In the letter, Justice Chandrachud had pressed that the right to access justice guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution encompasses the right to access live Court proceedings.

Recently, Justice AS Oka had remarked that constitutional matters being heard by the Supreme Court of India should be live-streamed.

Talking about allegations of courts being opaque, Justice Oka had said that live streaming would help people see how difficult the lives of lawyers and Judges are and why matters take so long.

Case Title: Indira Jaising vs. Secretary General and Ors