The livestreaming of court proceedings is a judicial concept and mechanism that involves the real-time broadcasting of court hearings via a live television link, webcast, or audio-video transmission. It was introduced to promote open justice, transparency, and public access to the judicial process.
The origin of the concept in India is rooted in the Supreme Court's landmark judgment in Swapnil Tripathi v. Supreme Court of India (2018). The three-judge bench, including Chief Justice Dipak Misra, held that the broadcasting of court proceedings falls within the purview of the right to access justice as enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution of India. This decision aimed to solve the problem of limited public access and foster greater accountability in the judiciary.
The mechanism is governed by the Model Rules for Live-Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings, drafted by the Supreme Court’s e-Committee. These rules mandate that all matters be live-streamed unless they fall under specific exceptions, such as matrimonial matters, sexual offences, or cases under the POCSO Act, 2012. A key provision is the mandatory delay of ten minutes in the live-stream. The rules strictly prohibit any person or entity from recording, sharing, or disseminating the live-streamed proceedings without prior permission.
The concept connects directly to the fundamental right to life and personal liberty under Article 21 and the broader principle of open justice.
Recently, the Supreme Court issued an interim order on July 24, 2026, barring the circulation of live-streamed clips on social media due to concerns over misuse. This was later clarified on August 5, 2026, stating that recognised news outlets can continue to report on the proceedings but are prohibited from "utilising" the audio or video clips in their reportage. The core principle of live-streaming for transparency remains, but the rules on the re-use and circulation of the content have been tightened to prevent commercial exploitation and decontextualized sharing.