SC seeks AG's help on plea for live streaming of important cases

The Supreme Court on Friday sought the Attorney General's assistance in the hearing of a plea seeking live streaming of important cases being heard by its regular benches, including by the constitution bench.

The bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud sought the assistance of Attorney General K.K. Venugopal while dealing with three petitions filed by senior counsel Indira Jaising, lawyer Mathews J. Nedumpara and one more.

Indira Jaising has sought the live streaming and video recording of the court proceedings of the cases of national importance having a bearing on a large section of people.

Jaising has sought "live streaming and/or video recording of Supreme Court cases of national importance that impact the public at large", basing her PIL on the right to receive information under Article 19(1)(a) and the principle of open courts and access to justice as protected under Article 21.

Pointing to the principle of law that justice should not only be done, but also be seen to be done, Jaising in her petition has contended that the best possible manner to achieve this goal was to live stream the proceedings in important cases so that arguments of all counsels and the interaction between the judges and the lawyers in the course of the hearing was "recorded accurately and without distortions".

The petitioner-lawyer is seeking live streaming of the court proceedings on important matters, including a challenge to the validity of the Aadhaar Act and a challenge to the practice of prohibiting women in the age group of 10 to 50 years from entering Sabarimala temple.

Besides, Jaising is also seeking live telecast of the hearing on petitions seeking to decriminalise homosexuality, challenge to discriminatory adultery law that only punishes men but spares women in extra-marital relationship, and rights of Parsi women to attend the community's religious ceremonies and rituals after they marry someone outside their religion.

--IANS

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