IHC introduces live streaming, recording of court proceedings to ensure transparency

Islamabad: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) mulls has taken the initiative to roll out live streaming and recording of court proceedings in an attempt to ensure greater transparency and access to justice, a statement issued by the IHC said on Saturday. 

The proceedings of court room number one have been equipped with live streaming following the directions of Chief Justice Athar Minallah.

"However, the live streaming of proceedings involves the rights of the litigants and, therefore, it can only be made accessible to the general public after its modalities have been finalised upon completion of the consultative process with the stakeholders," read the statement, adding that "not every litigant would want proceedings to be streamed live." 

Matrimonial matters, recording of evidence, privileged communications etc may have to be excluded from live streaming. 

The Chief justice has formed an e-Committee which is headed by the judges of the high court. The committee also inlcudes representatives of the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), Islamabad Bar Council (IBC), Islamabad High Court Bar Association, Islamabad Bar Association and High Court press/media reporters. 

The committee will deliberate the modalities and propose rules regarding live streaming of the court proceedings, inter-alia, having regard to the rights and interests of the litigants, according to the statement.

The committee may co-opt members and invite suggestions from the general public.

The members of the general public may also send proposals/suggestions addressed to the registrar of the court regarding modalities relating to the live streaming of court proceedings.