Bar body moves Karnataka High Court to restrain public from using videos of court hearings

Days after two video clips of Karnataka High Court judge, Justice V Srishananda went viral on social media, the Advocates’ Association Bengaluru on Monday moved the Karnataka High Court seeking directions to restrain public from editing/ morphing or illegally using live streamed videos of court proceedings.

The plea was filed seeking “appropriate orders restraining all social-media, individuals, video-makers, media agencies and general public from using/ editing/ morphing or illegally using court proceedings of live streamed videos.”

The Association mentioned the matter for urgent hearing before a bench of Justice Hemant Chandangoudar.

The plea has also sought a direction to YouTube, Facebook, X and other social media platforms to delete any videos or reels that might have been created using footage from the High Court live streaming proceedings.

On September 20, the Association had written two letters to the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court NV Anjaria, the first seeking that live streaming proceedings be halted temporarily, and another highlighting the “dangers of live streaming” of court proceedings.

The petition before the Court follows its second letter written to the Chief Justice.

In their plea, the Association President and other office bearers have contended that there exists a "whole new market on social media” that “demonises, twists, manipulates, and criticises” court deliberations by taking video clips from the Court’s official live stream out of context.

The live streaming of proceedings gives scope for the layman to criticise in an unwarranted manner not only judiciary but also noble profession like advocacy which has its own key role to play in the development of the society.

“Thus, these videos when circulated are causing harm especially to the younger members of the Bar who are passionately learning the nuances and intricacies of the legal profession by appearing before constitutional courts,” the petitioners have claimed.

The High Court is likely to hear the petition on September 24.

A video clip of a hearing conducted by Justice Srishananda on August 28 was circulated on social media where the judge can be seen referring to a Muslim dominated sub-locality in west Bengaluru as 'Pakistan'.

Hours later, another video from the same court room came to light, in which Justice Srishananda can be seen making a gender insensitive comment.

The judge later apologised for his comments after the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisnace of the comments.