The Delhi High Court has recently rejected a petition requesting that the administrative division of the Delhi High Court accelerate the implementation of live-streaming for court proceedings.

Justice Sanjeev Narula dismissed the petition, observing that the Delhi High Court is already dedicated to improving transparency through gradual measures. He noted that imposing strict deadlines without considering technical challenges and resource constraints would be impractical.

The Court emphasized that significant progress has already been achieved in live-streaming High Court proceedings, with ongoing efforts to refine and expand these capabilities.

“The matters pertaining to the technical execution of administrative policies of live streaming are best handled by the designated judicial and technical committees of the High Court, which are equipped to address these issues in accordance with evolving needs and technical advancements,” the Bench said.

Currently, live-streaming of Delhi High Court proceedings occurs on a case-by-case basis, with the facility available only in the Chief Justice's Court and Court No. 39. The petition, filed by Rakesh Kumar Gupta, requested phased implementation of live-streaming and urged the Court to expedite the process. Gupta also sought directions to make recordings of court proceedings available, similar to e-inspections.

The Court reviewed the petition and noted that the provision for distributing copies of live-streamed recordings is regulated by specific rules due to privacy concerns. It emphasized that expanding access without addressing these factors could lead to misuse and pose security risks.