WhatsApp Channel Join Now
Telegram Group Join Now

Relevance: GS-II (Indian Constitution, Judiciary, Transparency, e-Governance) Source: Supreme Court Updates, 2026

1 · What is the news?

Today, anyone can sit at home and watch Supreme Court or High Court hearings live on their phones. This is a great step for transparency. However, a major problem has started: people are cutting short, out-of-context video clips (or “reels”) and sharing them on social media to mock or troll judges and lawyers.

To stop this disrespect, the Supreme Court is creating a new rulebook (protocol). They do not want to hide the truth, but they want to stop the spread of fake, edited videos. Soon, if anyone wants to share a court video on platforms like WhatsApp or Facebook, they must use the authentic, official version directly from the court’s archives. This ensures that the dignity of the courts is protected while keeping justice visible to the common citizen.

2 · From Open Justice to Viral Trolling

Step 1: The Doors Open
To make the justice system transparent, courts started livestreaming their important hearings on YouTube for the general public.
▼
Step 2: The Viral Misuse
Instead of learning, users started editing short, sensationalized clips to troll lawyers and judges, putting unfair pressure on them.
▼
Step 3: The Temporary Ban (July 2026)
The Supreme Court temporarily banned people from downloading and sharing these videos without official permission, angering transparency activists.
▼
Step 4: The Middle Path
To balance freedom and respect, the SC is now making a rule: you can share court videos, but only the unedited, official versions from the court archives.

3 · Key Legal Concepts

Swapnil Tripathi Case (2018)
The Landmark Judgement
This was the historic case where the Supreme Court first allowed the livestreaming of important cases, declaring that justice must be seen by the public.
Article 145
Rule-Making Power
This Article of the Constitution gives the Supreme Court the special power to frame its own rules and procedures, including how its videos are shared online.
Fundamental Rights
Right to Know
Watching court proceedings is a part of our Right to Access Justice (Article 21) and our Freedom of Speech and Right to Know (Article 19).
The Danger of Sensationalism
Why Control is Needed
Unregulated videos can leak sensitive information about family disputes or national security. It also puts pressure on judges to act for the camera rather than the law.

UPSC Prelims Quick Facts: Court Livestreaming
First in India The Gujarat High Court became the first court in India to start livestreaming its judicial proceedings in the year 2020.
High Court Independence The responsibility for framing rules for livestreaming in individual High Courts is an administrative matter that falls strictly under their own control, not the Central Government.
Tech Partnerships The Supreme Court is taking suggestions from major digital platforms like Meta (WhatsApp, Facebook) to build a secure system to verify authentic court footage.
Open Justice A core legal principle that states: “Justice must not only be done, but must also be seen to be done.”

MCQ Practice Question
Q. With reference to the livestreaming of court proceedings in India, consider the following statements:

  1. The Supreme Court allowed the livestreaming of cases of constitutional importance following the Swapnil Tripathi judgement (2018).
  2. Article 145 of the Constitution empowers the Supreme Court to frame rules regarding its own practice and procedure.
  3. The Supreme Court of India was the first court in the country to begin livestreaming its proceedings.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only    (b) 2 and 3 only    (c) 1 and 3 only    (d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

  • Statement 1 — Correct: The 2018 Swapnil Tripathi case is the landmark judgement that paved the way for court livestreaming in India to uphold the principle of open justice.
  • Statement 2 — Correct: Article 145 gives the Supreme Court the authority to make rules for regulating its own practices and procedures.
  • Statement 3 — Incorrect (the trap): The Supreme Court was not the first. The Gujarat High Court was the first court in India to start livestreaming its proceedings in 2020.
Ajmal IAS APSC Foundation Course

Recent Posts

Ajmal IAS APSC Foundation BATCH
Ajmal IAS APSC Foundation Course

Start Yours at Ajmal IAS – with Mentorship StrategyDisciplineClarityResults that Drives Success

Your dream deserves this moment — begin it here.