Supreme Court Directs Lawyer to Use IT Act Remedy for Court Appearance Video Removal

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea filed by a lawyer seeking action against news portals and social media intermediaries for circulating a recording of his courtroom appearance [Bhanu Pratap Singh v. Union of India].A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked the lawyer to first approach the concerned news portals and social media intermediaries for takedown of the videos under the Information Technology Act and Intermediary Rules.“First avail the legal remedy. Give them a legal notice referring to the Court’s order dated July 24, 2026. State that they are required to conform to the Court’s directions, that their conduct attracts penal action and call upon them to act immediately,” said CJI Kant.Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V MohanaThe lawyer told the Court that his video appearance before the Supreme Court was circulated by news portals on August 28, more than a month after the Court's July 24 order concerning unauthorised use of court proceedings. He further submitted that the circulation of the video would hamper his profession.However, CJI Kant questioned the lawyer's reluctance to pursue legal remedies against those allegedly circulating the video.“If you are brave enough to use abusive and chosen words and make such fierce allegations, why are you shy of it? These are people creating news. They are antisocial elements. Who invited them to create this nui