The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered a temporary suspension of live streaming of criminal case hearings starting September 15. The move comes amid concerns over privacy, misuse, and safeguarding trial integrity.
Jabalpur: On September 14, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has decided to temporarily stop live streaming of hearings in criminal cases from Monday. This decision came while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) which claimed that live streams were being misused on social media and showing the judiciary in a negative light.
In its interim order, a division bench of Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf directed the registry to stop live streaming immediately.
The bench said,
“The registry is directed to forthwith stop the live streaming of all benches hearing criminal matters till the next date of hearing.”
At the same time, the court clarified that people will still be able to view proceedings through Webex. It added,
“However, Registry shall ensure that unrestricted Webex Link is made available on the website so that any person, who wishes to view the proceedings can do so through the Webex Link. The Registry shall also ensure that recording facility through the Webex Link be not provided to any person, who wishes to view the proceedings.”
The court further stated that
“The order is to be implemented with effect from September 15.”
Advocate Arihant Tiwari, who filed the PIL, confirmed to PTI over the phone that the case has now been listed for further hearing on September 25.
He argued before the High Court that live streaming of court proceedings was being exploited by some individuals.
According to him,
“the live streaming of court proceedings was being misused by several private entities by creating reels, clips and memes.”
He further submitted that,
“the proceedings are being shown on social media in poor light.”
Tiwari also pointed out that Madhya Pradesh High Court has one of the highest online viewerships in the country, so misuse must be curbed.
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He told the court,
“according to some estimates, the online courtroom proceedings of the MP High Court were viewed highest in the country. so its distortion should be stopped.”
The issue will now come up for further consideration on September 25.
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