Senior Advocate Indira Jaising has written to Chief Justice of India (CJI) U.U. Lalit, seeking live-streaming of court proceedings as the Supreme Court is seized of several cases of importance being heard by Constitution benches.
The senior counsel emphasized that almost all cases which are currently been argued in the Supreme Court, relate to challenges that discriminate against citizens.
“Significant issues about what constitutes equality, substantive equality, discrimination based on caste, sex, religion, and what is secularism will be addressed and decisions which concern the interpretation of the Constitution will be taken by this Court,” reads the letter.
It talks about how the entire country was interested in the arguments, which were given in the court and that lead to such judgements. It further talks about how people have deep-rooted interest in the arguments presented in the court and the exchange between lawyers and judges.
The letter says “It forms a part of the right to be well informed, to be educated by the process, and to contribute if we have anything significant to say.”
Jaising in her letter mentions about the fake news is n rise, so people need a first hand information.
The letter adds that there is no substitute for first-hand knowledge, especially in the era of what has come to be known as ‘fake news’ and hence, there is an urgent need for real time information.
While putting forward her point, she said after the ceremonial proceedings of former CJI N.V. Ramana were live-streamed, she has become sure that there is enough infrastructure and precedent in the court for live-streaming, which became evident during the former CJI’s ceremonial proceedings.