In A First, Gujarat High Court Streams Proceedings On YouTube
The court became the first court in India to livestream its proceedings on YouTube for public viewing.
The Gujarat High Court became on Oct. 26 the first court in India to livestream its proceedings on YouTube for public viewing.
The move is on a trial basis and is at present limited to proceedings involving the court’s Chief Justice Vikram Nath.
“Aspect of continuing with or adapting the modality of live court proceedings will be decided based on the outcome of this trial starting today and any other trial of any other modality that may be taken up in due course,” the court said in a statement on its website.
The Gujarat High Court had earlier in March uploaded the proceedings relating to a public interest litigation on the Covid-19 outbreak on YouTube. Later, the standing committee of the high court held a meeting in June and set up a two-judge panel to decide on making virtual hearings accessible to the public. The committee was tasked with working out the modalities to facilitate access to virtual hearings for members of the media and the public.
With today’s move, the Gujarat High Court joins the Delhi and Kerala High Courts in allowing public access to court proceedings. The Kerala High Court publishes links to view all court hearings on its website while the Delhi High Court provides links to anyone who requests to attend the public hearing.
The Supreme Court, too, has favoured the proposal. In a 2018 judgment, the top court had given the go-ahead to live streaming its proceedings but formal rules to implement the decision are yet to be framed.