New Delhi: Chief Justice of India N V Ramana Thursday said he is “actively considering the proposal to telecast live the proceedings of the Supreme Court”, but “before initiating concrete steps in this regard”, he plans “to seek general consensus among… colleagues in the court”.
Speaking at the launch of a mobile application that would enable reporters to access virtual court proceedings, the CJI pointed out that transparency is a time-honoured principle when it comes to the country’s judicial process and it’s important for the public to be able to access court proceedings since the ruling of the court has a bearing on the lives of people and the media’s role assumes importance in the process of disseminating information.
In a September 2018 judgment, a three-judge bench headed by then CJI Dipak Misra had given its nod to live stream court proceedings, saying this will bring more accountability and enhance the rule of law.
Saying “sunlight is the best disinfectant”, it ordered that the project “must be implemented in a progressive, structured and phased manner, with certain safeguards to ensure that the purpose of live-streaming of proceedings is achieved holistically and that it does not interfere with the administration of justice or the dignity and majesty of the court hearing the matter and/or impinge upon any rights of the litigants or witnesses”. On Thursday, CJI Ramana went on to point out how “the pandemic has affected everyone”, including the judiciary.
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