New Delhi: In a key development, the Supreme Court's e-committee has released the draft model rules on live streaming of court proceedings and has invited suggestions and inputs from all stakeholders on or before 30 June 2021.
The committee headed by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud has written a letter to all Chief Justices of the High Courts, seeking inputs and suggestions on the draft model rules for live streaming and recording of court proceedings.
The model rules will enable access to live court proceedings, including on matters of public interest to citizens, journalists, civil society, academicians and law students on a real-time basis, which was not otherwise possible owing to geographical, logistical or infrastructural issues.
"To imbue greater transparency, inclusivity and foster access to justice, the e-committee has undertaken the project of live streaming of court proceedings on priority," said a statement released by the Ministry of Law and Justice.
The draft was finalised by a sub-committee consisting of judges of the Bombay, Delhi, Madras and Karnataka High Courts. The committee held extensive deliberations and took into account the principles enunciated in the decision of the Supreme Court in Swapnil Tripathi v Supreme Court of India (2018).
The draft model rules are now available on the website of the e-committee.
"Suggestions and inputs on the Draft Model Rules for Live-Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings can be sent in the following email ID ecommittee@aij.gov.in on or before June 30, 2021," added the statement.
The e-committee of the Supreme Court, along with the Department of Justice, is working under the National Policy and Action Plan for the implementation of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the Indian Judiciary.