Not possible to telecast live assembly proceedings: TN govt

Tamil Nadu government today told the Madras High Court that it was not possible to telecast live the proceedings of the state assembly due to monetary constraints.
A submission to this effect was made by Advocate General A L Somayaji when a PIL seeking live telecast of assembly proceedings to enhance democratic functioning of the House came up for hearing before the first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T S Sivagnanam.
"In view of financial constraints, there is little possibility of the state assembly live telecasting its proceedings even though both the Houses of Parliament are telecasting their proceedings," the bench said echoing the submissions of Somayaji.

The Advocate General also informed the court that most assemblies do not telecast their proceedings live.
Recording the statement, the judges then asked the government to file an affidavit indicating the extent of financial commitment on account of which it was not feasible to live-telecast the proceedings.
They adjourned the case to July 22 for further hearing.

The PIL was filed by the president of Tamil Nadu unit Lok Satta Party D Jagadeeswaran, pointing out that the assembly proceedings in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh are being telecast at present.
The PIL said that in Tamil Nadu though the proceedings were covered in full, only edited version was released to the media for telecast.

"The citizens' right to know what business transpires in the assembly is being curtailed by the state through release of only selective videos," it said.
Referring to the government's announcement that state-run Arasu Cable TV would telecast the assembly proceedings live, the PIL said the decision had not yet been implemented.