Delhi High Court rejects plea to speedily implement live-streaming of hearings

The Delhi High Court recently dismissed a plea seeking directions to the administrative side of the Delhi High Court to expedite the process of live-streaming of court proceedings [CA Rakesh Kumar Gupta v Delhi High Court through Registrar General]..Justice Sanjeev Narula rejected the plea after noting that the High Court is already committed to enhancing transparency through measured steps and imposing rigid timelines without regard to technical challenges and resource allocation would not be prudent.The Court stressed that substantial progress has already been made in live-streaming of the High Court proceedings and efforts are going on to refine and expand live-streaming capabilities.“The matters pertaining to the technical execution of administrative policies of live streaming are best handled by the designated judicial and technical committees of the High Court, which are equipped to address these issues in accordance with evolving needs and technical advancements,” the Bench said.Notably, live-streaming of Delhi High Court proceedings happen on case-to-case basis. However, presently, the facility is limited to the Chief Justice Court and Court No. 39..The petition before the High Court was filed by one Rakesh Kumar Gupta seeking directions to the Delhi High Court for phased implementation of live-streaming and to expedite the process.He also sought directions to provide copies of recordings of court proceedings like e-inspections..The Court considered the case and observed that the provision for providing copies of the recordings conducted on live streaming is governed by specific rules which are based on privacy concerns and expanding access without considering these factors could potentially lead to misuse and raise security concerns.“Adjustments to the recording procedures are technical matters best left to the discretion of the Court’s IT and administrative teams, who are equipped with the expertise to ensure compliance with legal standards and operational efficiency,” the Court said. .Petitioner Rakesh Kumar Gupta appeared in-person.None appeared for the Delhi High Court. .[Read Judgment]