Delhi HC announces live streaming of court proceedings from Oct 11

The Delhi High Court on Monday announced that it will start on October 11 live streaming of proceedings in the court presided by its chief justice, in pursuit of greater access to justice.

A communication issued by the high court said that the streaming link will be available on its official website and for now, live streaming will be done on a case-to-case basis.

'In pursuit of greater access to justice, the High Court of Delhi is going to start the live streaming of court proceedings on 11 October, 2023 at 10:30 am in Court No. 1 (comprising Hon'ble Mr. Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, the Chief Justice and Hon'ble Mr. Justice Sanjeev Narula) in an identified matter,' the note said.

'For now, the live streaming of court proceedings will be conducted on case to case basis, as per the directions of the Hon'ble Court,' it added.

Court no. 1 of the high court generally deals with public interest litigations.

The live streaming of court proceedings will soon also start in high court's court no. 39 where another division bench conducts its proceedings, the note said.

The communication clarified that the live streamed content is for information purpose only and shall not constitute the official record of the court proceedings.

It also said that no person/entity, including print and electronic media, and social media platforms, other than those authorised, shall record, share and/or disseminate the content.

In January, the high court had notified the rules for live streaming and recording of proceedings.

‘Live Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings Rules of the High Court of Delhi, 2022’, framed by the high court with the prior approval of the lieutenant governor of Delhi, came into force from January 13 when they were published in the Gazette.

As per the rules, live-stream/ live-streamed/ live streaming means a live television link, webcast, audio-video transmissions via electronic means or other arrangements whereby any person can view the proceedings as permitted under these rules.

The rules, which will apply to the Delhi High Court and to the courts and tribunals over which it has supervisory jurisdiction, have said recording means audio and video data of proceedings stored in electronic format, whether it is live streamed or not.

As per the rules, all proceedings will be live streamed by the court excluding matrimonial matters, child adoption and child custody, cases concerning sexual offences and gender-based violence against women, and matters registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.

Several other categories of cases have also been excluded from being live streamed.