New Delhi: Writing to the Chief Justice of India and other judges of the Supreme Court, senior advocate Indira Jaising urged them to start live streaming of proceedings of matters of public and constitutional importance. She also sought the keeping of permanent records of the arguments by advocates of all sides and the proceedings of the court, IANS reported.
Jaising listed matters including EWS quota, hijab ban, Citizenship Amendment Act etc., which were heard by the top court as those of national importance. She urged the court to allow live streaming as per a 2018 judgment and cited the fundamental right of every citizen to freedom of information as well as the right to access justice.
She said, "There is no substitute for first-hand knowledge, especially in the era of what has come to be known as 'fake news' and hence, there is an urgent need for real-time information. Since the judgement was pronounced, I have made repeated requests to the Hon'ble court to commence live streaming cases of national importance."
"It is pertinent to note that in accordance with Article 129 of the Constitution of India, the Supreme Court is a court of record. I, therefore, request you to start live streaming these proceedings as also to keep a permanent record of the arguments by counsel on all sides to be part of the record that is preserved along with the proceedings of the court, she said."
She suggested that the court should start its own channel. For the time being, it could stream live proceedings through its own website or YouTube, she said, adding that the court has sufficient infrastructure for the same.
Jaising wrote, "We are passing through times when issues of great national importance are being discussed, debated, and decided upon in the Supreme Court of India. A few examples will suffice: the Constitutional validity of the 103rd amendment is currently being challenged before the Constitution Bench in Court No 1."
According to her, the arguments on matters of social and political justice for discriminated castes and whether reservations in public employment and education can be made purely on economic grounds.
"Also in the field of reservations are two other cases relating to sub-categorising within castes and the issue of extending reservations to Muslims and Christians," her letter read.