Disclaimer: This has been reported after the availability of the order of the Court and not on media reports so as to give an accurate report to our readers.
Supreme Court: While considering this writ petition raising concerns over misuse of video conferencing and live-streaming facility in judicial proceedings, especially selective circulation of out-of-context, cropped and misleading clips from court hearings on digital platforms, the three-Judge Bench of Surya Kant, CJI, Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, JJ., gave an interim direction prohibiting extraction, dissemination, monetisation, posting, re-posting, uploading, transmitting, modification, storing, or hosting of the audio-video recordings of the judicial proceedings on social media or any other digital platforms without prior permission of the Secretary General of the Supreme Court or the Registrar Generals of the jurisdictional High Courts.
The Court however, clarified that the aforesaid interim order shall have no bearing on the reporting of court proceedings by recognised news outlets.
Also read: SC releases draft model rules for Live streaming and recording of proceedings
The instant writ petition raised grave concerns over growing misuse of video-conferenced judicial proceedings and the selective circulation of clipped, edited, and decontextualised portions of court hearings on social media platforms. The petitioner pointed out that such out-of-context sharing of court hearings on digital platforms creates climate of hostility, misinformation, and deliberate sensationalism around judicial proceedings, thereby undermining public confidence in the administration of justice.
Also read: Live Streaming N’ Courts: Accessible, Affordable and Accountable Judiciary [PART I]
Hearing the petition, the Court impleaded the 25 High Courts as respondents. The Court further impleaded the digital platforms, namely, LinkedIn, Google, YouTube and X Corp and Meta Platforms Inc. including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp.
The Court further directed the High Courts to submit status reports with respect to the adoption of the Model Rules for live streaming and recording of court proceedings circulated by the Supreme Court. The Court added that these status reports shall also explain the impact and feasibility of continuous/uninterrupted live streaming.
Issuing the aforestated interim directions, the Court directed the Secretary General of the Supreme Court and the Registrar Generals of all the High Courts to arrange the uploading of this order on their respective websites for public information.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on 31 July 2026.
[Harshita Grover v. Union of India, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 751/2026, order dated 24-7-2026]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For Petitioner(s): Dr. Vikas Singh, Sr. Adv.Mr. Md Imran Ahmad, Adv.Mr. R. Jude Rohit, Adv.Mr. Daksh Sachdeva, Adv.Ms. Deepeika Kalia, Adv.Ms. Khushi, Adv.Mr. Zeeshan Ahmad, Adv.Mr. Sudeep Chandra, Adv.Mr. Anil Kumar, AOR
