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[ LIVE MINT] 26 September 2015
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/f2eFxi1Z0SmWsD6o42qq9O/How-
feasible-is-the-idea-of-live-recording-court-proceedings.html
How feasible is the idea of live recording of court
proceedings
This is a question being widely debated after the Calcutta high court
allowed it
Shreeja Sen
The Calcutta high court court order was forward thinking in many
ways. But it comes with a disclaimer that video recording would not
be part of the official record of the case, as there are no court rules
to that effect. Photo: Indranil Bhoumik/Mint
NEW DELHI: Will video or audio recording of court proceedings bring
greater transparency in judicial process? This is a question being
widely debated after the Calcutta high court allowed it.
On 19 July, The Indian Express reported that the “Calcutta high
court, in a first, has recorded court room proceedings, setting a
precedent in the country where even the top court has been
reluctant to permit cameras and microphones inside court halls”.
The court order was forward thinking in many ways. But it comes
with a disclaimer that video recording would not be part of the
official record of the case, as there are no court rules to that effect.
The judge had categorically said that since the concerned parties in
the case agreed to video recording, the same was allowed.
“In terms of precedent, it holds no value. The court is quite
categorical as it says the recording will not be part of official
records,” said Rahul Singh, assistant professor at the Bengaluru-
based National Law School of India University.
So what is stopping courts from adopting such methods? A major
factor is cost, said Alok Prasanna of Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, a
New Delhi-based think tank. “If I had to pick one factor, I think it is
simply cost. Proper video recording, professional transcription,
storage, broadcast et al are fairly expensive and may not be most
cost effective use of resources even for a high court,” he said.
Singh of NLSIU also pointed to the flip side of such a move. “There
might be a lot of playing to the galleries. Audio recording is allowed
in the US. But they have a limited time to make their arguments.
The problem in India is that a lot of stuff happens in court. Quality
of arguments isn’t very good. In fact, more than judges, lawyers are
uncomfortable with arguments being recorded,” he said.
Shreeja Sen
[ LIVE MINT] 26 September 2015
http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/f2eFxi1Z0SmWsD6o42qq9O/How-
feasible-is-the-idea-of-live-recording-court-proceedings.html
How feasible is the idea of live recording of court
proceedings
This is a question being widely debated after the Calcutta high court
allowed it
Shreeja Sen
The Calcutta high court court order was forward thinking in many
ways. But it comes with a disclaimer that video recording would not
be part of the official record of the case, as there are no court rules
to that effect. Photo: Indranil Bhoumik/Mint
NEW DELHI: Will video or audio recording of court proceedings bring
greater transparency in judicial process? This is a question being
widely debated after the Calcutta high court allowed it.
On 19 July, The Indian Express reported that the “Calcutta high
court, in a first, has recorded court room proceedings, setting a
precedent in the country where even the top court has been
reluctant to permit cameras and microphones inside court halls”.
The court order was forward thinking in many ways. But it comes
with a disclaimer that video recording would not be part of the
official record of the case, as there are no court rules to that effect.
The judge had categorically said that since the concerned parties in
the case agreed to video recording, the same was allowed.
“In terms of precedent, it holds no value. The court is quite
categorical as it says the recording will not be part of official
records,” said Rahul Singh, assistant professor at the Bengaluru-
based National Law School of India University.
So what is stopping courts from adopting such methods? A major
factor is cost, said Alok Prasanna of Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, a
New Delhi-based think tank. “If I had to pick one factor, I think it is
simply cost. Proper video recording, professional transcription,
storage, broadcast et al are fairly expensive and may not be most
cost effective use of resources even for a high court,” he said.
Singh of NLSIU also pointed to the flip side of such a move. “There
might be a lot of playing to the galleries. Audio recording is allowed
in the US. But they have a limited time to make their arguments.
The problem in India is that a lot of stuff happens in court. Quality
of arguments isn’t very good. In fact, more than judges, lawyers are
uncomfortable with arguments being recorded,” he said.
Shreeja Sen
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