Supreme Court Proposes Controlled-Archive Protocol for Judicial Livestreams

The Supreme Court of India has initiated the process of framing a comprehensive protocol to regulate the sharing and posting of livestreamed judicial proceedings. This move follows an interim order issued on July 24, 2026, which had imposed broad restrictions on the dissemination of such content. The proposed framework seeks to mandate that all public access to recorded judicial proceedings be routed exclusively through official court archives, effectively curbing the unauthorized circulation of clips on social media platforms. This development highlights the ongoing tension between the constitutional principle of 'open justice'—which posits that justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done—and the practical challenges posed by the digital age. While livestreaming has significantly enhanced transparency and public engagement with the judiciary, it has also opened the door to the misuse of court footage. Instances of selective editing, out-of-context sharing, and online trolling of judges and legal proceedings have raised concerns regarding judicial integrity and the decorum of the court.