Union Law Ministry had some years ago taken initiative for introducing video-recording of court-proceedings. But there has been no further progress so far in the matter. Suggestions for video-recording of courts’ proceedings are being floated for quite some now which is not at all difficult and expensive in present-days’ advanced technology. Steps should be taken for immediate implementation of the much-needed project at least at Supreme Court and High Courts. Rather there should be a system of audio-recording of complete courts’ proceedings. Copies of these audio-tapes may also be supplied to recognised media-subscribers on payment after the courts’ proceedings are over for the day to avoid any chance of misreporting of courts’ proceedings. Such audio-recordings will also provide a justified opportunity to defend media-persons in case they are slapped with charges of misreporting. System will also be advantageous in many other ways including also accountability in judicial system. It may be recalled that Supreme Court had on 20.09.2012 issued contempt-notices to two English dailies Pioneer and Indian Express allegedly for their having misreported court’s proceedings. Such situations would never occur again if idea of recording court-proceedings is put into practice.
Also some members from the bar had once written to Prime Minister for live telecast of court-proceedings on website. A study needs to be made on feasibility aspect of the suggestion and to find if such a system exists in any other country. However all such measures will definitely strengthen creditability and accountability in justice-delivery-system.
SUBHASH CHANDRA AGRAWAL