SC Agrees To Hear Plea Seeking Live-Streaming Of Article 370 Hearing

Supreme Court today agreed to hear a petition seeking the live streaming of hearings by a Constitution Bench regarding matters related to the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. The petition file by RSS ideologue KN Govindacharya was mentioned by senior advocate Vikas Singh before a bench headed by CJI SA Bobde, and comprising of Justices BR Gavai and Surya Kant. Singh stated that the matter before the Constitution Bench, which is to be heard from December 10, is one of Constitutional and national importance.

Govindacharya, who had filed a similar application during the Ayodhya land dispute hearing, stated in his petition that the court, on that occasion, had asked the Registry to inform them of the viability of the same. However, the Registry had failed to comply with the court's order. The apex court's failure to implement its own judgment from 2018 (which batted for live streaming of important matters) speaks for itself, he submitted.

The petition alludes to the hearing in the Kashmir matters as crucial, and raises concerns of misreporting. In light of this concern, live streaming/video recording/audio recording/transcripting on a pilot basis is essential according to the petitioner.