The Bombay High Court has issued a notification clarifying that live streaming of its proceedings will be subject to the consent of the presiding judge, even as a public interest litigation (PIL) continues to challenge a seven-year-old decision by the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) to stop audio and video recording of its hearings.
The notice, dated November 10 and signed by Nitin V. Jiwane, Officer on Special Duty, stated that under the Bombay High Court Rules for Live Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings, 2025, judges are designated as the authority to approve access to copies of streamed recordings.
“It is further to inform that the Hon’ble Judge(s) of the concerned Court are designated as the Designated Officer(s) under Rule 7.3, who are only empowered to sanction access to copies of Live Streamed Recordings upon receipt of an application in the Form prescribed under Schedule III of the Rules,” the notification read.
Storage and preservation of these recordings will occur only on specific directions of the court, typically for six months or any other period deemed appropriate.
“It is also to inform that the storage and preservation of Live Streamed Recordings shall be undertaken only upon specific directions of the concerned Hon’ble Court in accordance with Rule 7.4 including specific directions for the duration of preservation i.e. whether six months or any other period deemed appropriate,” the Court’s notice said.
