Live Streaming of Court Proceedings in India: A Constitutional Evaluation of Transparency as A Judicial Reform

Abstract

Abstract Thanks to digital transformation, courts now have fresh ways to open up and involve the public in their work. After the Supreme Court of India recognized open justice as a constitutional value in the Swapnil Tripathi case, live streaming court sessions started catching on as a big step forward. This shift—from the old model of people attending court in person to watching online—became real once official rules for live streaming came into play. But opening up the courts this way isn’t just progress. It brings some tough constitutional questions. There’s a real tension between transparency and concerns about privacy, dignity, and the right to a fair trial. People worry about witness safety, and it’s not hard to imagine recordings being misused. Yes, streaming court hearings changes the game, but it also means grappling with how far openness should go inside the justice system. This paper explores whether Indian courts can be more transparent by live streaming their hearings without sacrificing other basic values. Taking a close look at legal texts, court judgments, constitutional rules, and court guidelines, the paper examines how live streaming fits with the Constitution. The findings reveal that real-time broadcasting encourages greater confidence in the judiciary, simplifies hearings for public understanding, encourages courts to act more responsibly, and supports legal education. But there’s a catch—when hearings deal with sensitive evidence, private details, or involve people who need extra protection, letting everything go live without controls can cause real problems. This article maintains that transparency works best when it’s grounded in a solid constitutional framework—not treated as an all-or-nothing idea. The authors call for clear rules to protect procedures, ways to keep sensitive matters private when needed, privacy measures, tighter control over who gets to see archived recordings, and strong regulations to stop misuse. If handled thoughtfully, live streaming becomes a real asset for judicial reform, all while protecting the fairness, independence, and dignity of the courts.