Supreme Court Issues Ban on Sharing Court Hearing Recordings Without Approval

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has issued an interim order that strictly prohibits the extraction, modification, sharing, reposting, uploading, or monetization of audio and video recordings from judicial hearings across social media and other digital platforms. This directive aims to safeguard the integrity of judicial proceedings and ensure that such recordings are not misused or misrepresented in the public domain. The order was delivered on Friday by a Bench consisting of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana, who emphasized the necessity of maintaining decorum and respect for the judicial process.

The Supreme Court's ruling mandates that anyone wishing to share recordings of court proceedings must first obtain explicit permission from the appropriate authorities. This includes seeking approval from the Registrar General of the relevant High Courts or the Secretary General of the Supreme Court. The Court's decision reflects a growing concern over the potential for audio and video recordings to be manipulated or taken out of context, which could lead to misinformation and a misunderstanding of judicial outcomes. By instituting this requirement, the Supreme Court aims to uphold the dignity of the legal system and prevent any unauthorized dissemination of sensitive judicial content.