The Gujarat High Court on October 26, 2020 began live streaming of court proceedings of the first court consisting of the division bench, led by the Chief Justice Vikram Nath, on You Tube on pilot basis with a view to effectuating and broadening the implementation of Open Court concept even during the virtual hearings of the court and ensuring the smooth functioning of the benches and distraction-free virtual hearing. Based on the outcome, future actions whether to continue with or adapting this modality of live streaming, will be decided.
In 2017, the Supreme Court had directed for live streaming of court proceedings in a public interest litigation (PIL). The Gujarat HC decision also came in response to a PIL, filed by a law student of Institute of Law, Nirma University, who had prayed for public access to court proceedings that had been rendered to the virtual medium. He had also highlighted some approach, adapted by other High Courts in the country to make court hearings accessible to media persons and litigants parties.
After shutting of physical premises in March, the Gujarat HC began operating over the virtual medium taking into account the safety of all stakeholders in light of the pandemic, which was witnessed by 1,500 viewers on the You Tube channel.
Courtesy: Indian Express