Andhra Pradesh court live-streaming rules to start May 1 2024

It matters to citizens as it establishes the framework for the public live streaming and recording of court proceedings, including specific exclusions and privacy protections.

Who it concerns: The High Court of Andhra Pradesh, subordinate courts and tribunals under its supervisory control, litigants, advocates, witnesses, and the general public.

What the document says

• The Chief Justice of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh appointed May 1, 2024, as the commencement date for the Live-Streaming Rules.
• The rules apply to the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and courts/tribunals under its supervisory control.
• Live streaming is mandatory for all proceedings unless excluded by specific rules or bench direction.
• Excluded from live streaming are: matrimonial matters, child adoption/custody, sexual offences, gender-based violence, POCSO/Juvenile Justice cases, Medical Termination of Pregnancy cases, in-camera proceedings, matters where publication is antithetical to justice, cases likely to provoke communal enmity, recording of evidence/cross-examination, and privileged communications.
• Cameras must cover at least five angles: bench, advocates, accused, deponent/witness, and electronic evidence presentation system if used.
• A dedicated control room (DCR) must be set up for every court complex to monitor proceedings and ensure no uncivil content is streamed.
• Personal information such as date of birth, home address, ID numbers, and bank account details must be deleted or muted during live streaming.
• Recordings must be retained for at least six months and stored in encrypted form with a specific hash value.
• Objections to live streaming must be filed using prescribed forms (Schedule I or II), and the final decision rests with the Bench.
• Audio-video recording by any means other than the official court infrastructure is expressly prohibited.

Also in the document

• The rules were originally notified by the Government on June 10, 2023, but the commencement date was set later by the Chief Justice.
• In criminal matters, victim and witness anonymity in recordings must be maintained via dummy names, face-masking, pixilation, or voice distortion as directed by the Court.
• The decision of the Bench regarding live streaming is not justiciable, though differences of opinion can be referred to a larger Bench.
• Transcripts of recordings are to be made available to advocates or litigants-in-person.