SC says it is ready to go live, Centre moots a TV channel

SC says it is ready to go live, Centre moots a TV channel

News:

1. Recently, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court has favoured live-streaming of court proceedings. Further, the government has mooted for a separate TV channel for live-streaming court proceedings

Important Facts:

2. Petitioners have advocated that citizens have the right to information and matters of national importance should be live-streamed. In case live-streaming is not possible, there should be provision for video-recording
3. Benefits of live-streaming court proceedings:

• Easy Access: Would help litigants follow the proceedings in their case. People from distant places do not have to travel to Delhi for the hearings
• Would help litigant address their lawyer’s performance
• Would keep a check on lawyer’s conduct inside the courtroom
• Help in ensuring transparency in the administration of the justice

4. Precautions to be taken:

• Cases related to national security concerns; matrimonial disputes and rapes should not be live-streamed. Public- viewing of cases of matrimonial disputes and rapes is a violation to the fundamental right to privacy and it might also affect justice
• Agreements with the broadcaster should be on a non-commercial basis so as to discourage profit-making from the arrangement
• Further, there should not be any unauthorised reproduction of the video of the court proceedings