Supreme Court: Clarifies Audio-Video Recording Reporting Rules in India

• The Supreme Court of India has clarified its interim order on audio-video recording reporting rules.
• The restriction prohibits posting, reposting, uploading or sharing of such recordings without prior permission from the court.
• Fair and accurate news reporting of judicial proceedings is unaffected by the restriction.
• The court aims to prevent unauthorized sharing of audio-video recordings and distortion of judicial proceedings.

However, it clarified that this restriction would not affect fair and accurate news reporting of judicial proceedings.

The Supreme Court of India has taken steps to clarify its interim order regarding audio-video recording reporting rules. The court had previously prohibited the posting, reposting, uploading, transmission or storage of such recordings on social media and other digital platforms without prior permission from the Supreme Court or the concerned high court. However, it clarified that this restriction would not affect fair and accurate news reporting of judicial proceedings. A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed to regulate the unauthorized extraction and circulation of audio and video recordings of court proceedings on social media and digital platforms. The PIL alleged that clips from live-streamed hearings were being edited, taken out of context and widely disseminated online, leading to distortion of judicial proceedings.

The Supreme Court's interim order was issued in response to concerns over the misuse of live-streamed court proceedings on social media. The court had stated that it would not affect fair and accurate news reporting of judicial proceedings, but rather aimed to prevent unauthorized sharing of audio-video recordings. This clarification comes after a PIL was filed by Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who argued that the previous order needed modifications to allow for official live streaming and archiving of court proceedings. The bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant allowed all applications related to the matter and clarified para 11 of their earlier order, which stated that the restriction would not apply to recognized news outlets.

The Supreme Court's clarification on audio-video recording reporting rules is significant for fair and accurate reporting in India. The court has made it clear that journalists can continue to report on court proceedings, but must do so without sharing unauthorized recordings on social media or digital platforms. This ruling aims to prevent the distortion of judicial proceedings and ensure that the public has access to accurate information about court cases. Lawyers should note that this clarification allows for fair and accurate reporting while prohibiting unauthorized sharing of audio-video recordings.

Lawyers should note that the Supreme Court has clarified its interim order, allowing fair and accurate reporting of court proceedings while prohibiting unauthorized sharing of audio-video recordings on social media and digital platforms without prior permission.

Source: Original reporting via Supreme Court of India