Supreme Court directs Centre to curb misuse of live-streamed court proceedings

The Supreme Court on Friday issued directions to the Centre to implement stricter action against individuals and entities misusing live-streamed court proceedings for commercial gain. The bench expressed concern over the extraction and circulation of court clips outside their original context, which it viewed as undermining the sanctity of judicial proceedings.

The court's directive seeks to establish a concrete mechanism that would enable authorities to identify, monitor, and take legal action against those engaged in unauthorized commercial exploitation of court footage. The move reflects growing concerns about the potential misuse of technology to distort court proceedings and judicial pronouncements.

The Supreme Court has maintained its stance on transparency in the judiciary by continuing live-streaming of proceedings, a practice initiated to enhance public access to the judicial system. However, Friday's order indicates the need to balance this transparency with safeguards against the manipulation or distortion of court content for commercial purposes.

The Centre has been tasked with working out the practical details of implementation, including coordination with relevant agencies and technology platforms where such misused clips may be circulated. Legal experts note that the directive addresses a contemporary challenge posed by digital media and social platforms in the context of judicial proceedings.