SC Seeks Registry's Report On Feasibility Of Live Streaming Ayodhya Hearing

The Supreme Court on Monday sought a report from the Registry regarding the feasibility of live streaming the proceedings in the Ayodhya-Babri Masjid case.

The plea  for live streaming was made by former RSS chief KN Govindacharya.

Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for petitioner, submitted before the bench headed by CJI Gogoi that the  case was of social and cultural significance, and for the benefit of large number of people who cannot attend daily hearings in Court, the proceedings should be live streamed. The Court should at least start transcription of the proceedings, so that they may be released later as per approval of the Court, Singh said.

The CJI said that the Court will consider the prayer and sought the report form the Registry.

Earlier, Govindacharya's counsel had mentioned before the constitution bench for video recording but the court had declined to pass any order. On September 5, the matter was posted before the bench of Justices Nariman and Surya Kant, which referred it to the CJI.

The petition referred to the Apex Court's September 2018 judgement which had ruled that court proceedings must be live streamed. According to the petition, despite around a year having gone by, the implementation of the Supreme Court ruling issue yet to take place.

Govindacharya, in the petition, said "this case is a matter of national importance. There are crores of persons...., who want to witness its proceedings before this court, but cannot do the same due to the present norms in the Supreme Court."

"People were desperate for early justice in the Ram Temple matter, wherein Lord Ram was kept in a makeshift tent for the past many years...This matter has been pending in the Supreme Court for the last nine years, and the public at large is interested in knowing the reasons behind the delay in deciding the cases," the plea also said.

The petitioner also states that the Constitution contains pictures of Lord Ram. Hence, live streaming of Ayodhya case will fulfill "Constitutional Patriotism".

"..considering the fact that the original copies of the Constitution itself detail pictures of Lord Ram. It is submitted that the live streaming of proceedings before this Hon'ble Court will also fulfil the mandate of constitutional patriotism.", the petition said.