SC bars court hearing clips on social media without approval, Pg3

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court of India issued an interim order prohibiting the recording and circulation of courtroom proceedings on social media without prior permission.
• A three-judge bench, led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, mandated approval from the Secretary General of the Supreme Court or Registrar General of High Courts for such activities.
• The order explicitly clarifies that it will not affect news reporting.
• This decision addresses concerns over the alleged misuse, selective clipping, and decontextualization of judicial proceedings on digital platforms.

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Detailed Insights:

• The interim order was passed while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by journalist Harshita Grover.
• The PIL highlighted that isolated courtroom exchanges are often circulated with misleading captions, leading to reputational harm.
• Unchecked circulation of such content risks undermining public confidence in the administration of justice.
• The bench also directed various High Courts to submit reports on the adoption of their live-streaming guidelines.
• Concerns were raised about the challenges of regulating digital content and the potential for AI tools to alter spoken words.
• The court emphasized that live streams should not become "24/7 entertainment channels," which could belittle the justice system.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Supreme Court of India: The apex judicial body and the final court of appeal in India.
• High Courts: The principal civil courts of original jurisdiction in each state and union territory of India.
• Public Interest Litigation (PIL): A legal action initiated in a court of law for the enforcement of public interest, often by a public-spirited individual or organization.
• Chief Justice of India: The head of the Indian judiciary and the Supreme Court of India, responsible for case allocation and administrative oversight.
• Secretary General of the Supreme Court: The highest-ranking administrative official of the Supreme Court registry, responsible for court administration and procedures.
• Registrar General of High Courts: The chief administrative officer of a High Court registry, overseeing its internal functioning and administrative matters.