For the primary time in its history, the Top Court of India Friday live streamed its proceedings. The event came on the day when incumbent CJI NV Ramana is retiring.
The proceedings of the bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ramana were live streamed starting 10.30 am by means of a government webcast portal. Earlier a notice was released regarding the same stating “Please notice that on the eve of laying down the office of the Hon'ble judge of India, the proceedings of the Hon'ble Chief Justice' Court i.e., Ceremonial Bench on August 26, 2022, 10:30 A.M. onwards shall be live streamed through the NIC webcast portal".
The proceedings were live streamed for the ceremonial bench of outgoing Chief Justice of India NV Ramana. Following the custom, Justice Ramana shared the bench with CJI-designate Justice UU Lalit , who is going to take up charge tomorrow. Justice Lalit was recently named as the 49th justice of India by Supreme Court Collegium
Today, The Pinnacle Court also live streamed hearings of cases and pronouncements of orders that were listed within the Chief Justice of India’s court. The Apex Court order on freebies issue was amongst the selections that were live streamed. When the proceedings were being live streamed, senior lawyer Dushyant Dave broke down in tears while bidding adieu to the outgoing CJI. Dave said CJI Ramana had performed his duty with a spine and he has been a citizen's judge and remains as a Citizen’s Judge’.
In 2018, the Top Court permitted live streaming of court proceedings of cases of constitutional and national significance, stating that this transparency would be like "sunlight" which is the "best disinfectant".
The Top Court had stated that as a start and as a run, some specified categories of cases including those who are of constitutional or national importance and are being argued before a constitution bench, should only be permitted to be live streamed.