List before CJI the plea for live telecast or recording of Ayodhya case: SC

The Supreme Court Friday said a plea seeking live telecast or recording of the ongoing proceedings in the Ayodhya land dispute case be listed before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, who is presiding over a 5-judge Constitution bench hearing the matter.

The petition, filed by former RSS ideologue K N Govindacharya, came up for hearing before a bench comprising justices R F Nariman and Surya Kant.

Senior advocate Vikas Singh, representing Govindacharya, said if live telecast of Ayodhya case proceedings was not possible then at least audio recording or transcription of hearing should be done.

He referred to the apex court's last year's verdict allowing live-streaming of court proceedings of cases of constitutional and national importance to buttress his arguments.

"At the same time, it (last year verdict) also says that exclude sensitive matters," the bench told Singh.

Singh argued that Ayodhya case was sensitive and of importance.

"We are open court but not for outsiders. We are open court for litigants only," he said, adding, "It cannot be said that this (Ayodhya) is not a matter of national or constitutional importance."