BackPIL in SC seeks live streaming of cases of national importance
The live streaming of cases of constitutional and national importance would inspire confidence in the functioning of the judiciary as an institution and help in maintaining the respect that it deserves as a co-equal organ of the state, the PIL said
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New Delhi: A plea has been filed in the Supreme Court on Thursday, seeking live streaming of cases of constitutional and national importance that could have an impact on the public.
The petition said live streaming of cases of constitutional and national importance will empower and provide access to ordinary citizens who cannot personally go to the court due to social and economic constraints, even though the decision would impact them.
The public interest litigation (PIL) filed by senior advocate Indira Jaising holds that live streaming and videography of the proceedings of the apex court in matters of great public importance will be in keeping with the principle of ‘open access to justice’ and will ensure ‘justice is not only done but is seen to be done’.
Such an exercise would inspire confidence in the functioning of the judiciary as an institution and help in maintaining the respect that it deserves as a co-equal organ of the state, the petition said.
It further says that it is necessary that those who are impacted by the judgments of the court have a right to be aware of the manner in which decisions are taken.
The petition referred to courts dealing with issues of environment, triple talaq, air pollution, ban on liquor to avoid deaths on national highways, ban on firecrackers to prevent air and noise pollution and extra judicial killings, all of which affect the public who do not get to see how decisions are made by the court.
Enabling citizens to understand the reasoning in cases affecting their rights forms part of their right to dignity and is an intrinsic value of their right to be heard under Article 21 (Right to Life) of the Constitution, the petition added.
The petition also quotes how other jurisdictions including those of Canada, Australia, the UK, New Zealand, South Africa, the European Court of Human Rights and the International Criminal Court permit varying degrees of recording court proceedings.
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