Deccan Chronicle: Hyderabad: Monday, August 21, 2017.
The Supreme
Court has recently directed that CCTV cameras be installed inside courtrooms
and at important locations within the court complex in at least two districts
in every state and Union Territory in the country.
In March
2017, a two-member bench of Justice A.K. Goel and Justice U.U. Lalit had
ordered that cameras be installed inside courtrooms on a trial basis, and
observed that “we have already incorporated safeguards of footage of recording
not being given for any purpose other than the purpose for which the High Court
considers it appropriate."
The top
court, which was initially reluctant to allow recording of court proceedings,
agreed with the Union of India’s argument that "CCTV cameras are the
culture of the day and promote good governance.”
The bench,
while dealing with a petition by one Pradyuman Bisht, seeking direction for
audio-video recording of the trial proceedings of his matrimonial dispute to
ensure a fair trial, had ordered on March 28, 2017: “We direct that at least in
two districts in every State/Union Territory (with the exception of small
states/Union Territories where it may be considered difficult to do so by the
concerned High Courts) CCTV cameras (without audio recording) may be installed
inside the courts and at such important locations of the court complexes as may
be considered appropriate.”
On August 14,
the bench modified its order while considering the suggestion from some of the
High Courts that audio recording should also be permitted, and ruled that audio
recordings will also be allowed.
Many PILs
demanding recording of proceedings in courtrooms have been dismissed by the
Supreme Court and certain High Courts in the past because it impinges on the
privacy of judicial officers.
In the
Pradyuman Bisht case, the Centre pointed out that there was “acknowledged
utility of CCTV cameras in recording contemporary events which may be useful
for any monitoring authority”.
While
directing that cameras be installed in courtrooms, the bench said that the
footage “will not be available under the RTI Act and will not be supplied to
anyone without the permission of the concerned High Court. Installation may be
completed within three.”
The bench
directed the Centre, the Union IT ministry in consultation with the e-committee
of the Supreme Court to lay down technical specifications and other modalities,
including price range and sources of supply, for installation of CCTV cameras.
The Supreme
Court opined that similar orders may be issued by the government for tribunals,
noting that recordings will help the constitutional authorities and the High
Courts in exercising jurisdiction.