Plea filed before Rajasthan High Court seeking live streaming of all cases relating to COVID-19 situation in the state

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition has been filed before the Rajasthan High Court seeking live streaming on a public platform, of all cases relating to the COVID-19 situation in Rajasthan. .The petition filed by advocate Arpit Gupta placed reliance on the judgment of the Supreme Court in Swapnil Tripathi v Supreme Court of India in which the top court had allowed the petition seeking live streaming of court proceedings on the ground that public is entitled to be privy to court hearings which have an impact on society at large. The Court in that judgment had held that right to know and receive information, is a facet of Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution. ."In the present scenario wherein the pandemic has taken toll on lives of citizens, live streaming of the important petitions pertaining to COVID-19 situation will help in a great way to the stakeholders and the general public at large and will reduce the public’s reliance on second hand information," the petition before the High Court said. .Gupta submitted that live streaming of proceedings will help enhance accountability of judicial institutions and those who participate in the judicial process.All issues and information concerning the pandemic, the steps being taken by the State of Rajasthan in regard to the same and orders, directions and observations made by the High Court in matters related to COVID-19 are of such nature which ought to be in public domain, the plea added. .Live streaming of court hearings, the petitioner submitted, is nothing but an extension to the concept of open courts and it is more feasible in present times due to the advent of technology..Further, the plea also pointed out that due to the lockdown restrictions, live streaming is the only way in which an ordinary citizen can witness court proceedings, especially in matters of paramount importance like that of pandemic. .For these reasons, the petitioner sought that an immediate action plan to be devised with appropriate directions to the Registry to ensure that the general public has access to live proceedings in COVID related cases.