Plea For Audio Video Recording Of Court Proceeding: Karnataka HC issues Notice To Centre, State

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday issued notice to the Union/State Government, Karnataka State Bar Council and High Court Registry, seeking their response on a petiton filed by an advocate seeking to implement Audio-Video recording in the courts of the State of Karnataka, which benefits the litigants, advocates and public in many ways.

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Hemant Chandangoudar directed the authorities to file their reply by Febrauray 17, the next date of hearing. The direction was given while hearing a petition filed by advocate Dilraj Rohit Sequeira.

The plea relies on the judgment of the Supereme Court in the case of Swapnil Thripathi & ors Vs. Supreme Court of India & Ors, AIR 2018 SC 4806. In which it is said that "Chief Justice of the High Courts should be commended to consider the adoption of live streaming in High Court and in the district judiciaries in phases commensurate with available resources and technical support. High courts would have to determine the modalities for doing so by framing appropriate rules."

The plea says that seeking implementation of audio video recording of the court proceedings form part of Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Part III of the Constitution, particularly Articles 14 and 21. Take within its ambit the right to have the proceedings of all Courts and Tribunals video-recorded, so too have access to the proceedings.

The plea prays for directions to implement the judgment of the Apex court. To provide for streaming of such proceedings and live telecast of matters of public interest. To respondents to provide infrastructure for the purpose of Audio-video, recording in the courts, tribunal and forums of state of Karnataka. 

Click here to download the Petition