Karnataka High Court Imposes New Restrictions on Live-Streamed Proceedings

The Karnataka High Court has set stringent guidelines to prevent unauthorized recording and dissemination of live-streamed judicial proceedings. This move follows a recent incident where remarks by a judge went viral, leading to criticism. New rules emphasize exclusive copyright of the court and legal penalties for violations.

The Karnataka High Court has established new rules to curb unauthorized sharing of live-streamed judicial proceedings on social media platforms. This action was taken after a judge’s recent comments drew widespread criticism when clips went viral.

A directive titled 'Prohibitions and Restrictions on Usage of the Recording or Live Stream,' now displayed at the start of live-streamed sessions, underscores the court's exclusive copyright and warns of legal consequences for violations. The note bans unauthorized recording and sharing, with only authorized entities allowed to handle such content.

Further, Rule 10(2) of the Karnataka Rules on Live Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings, 2021, reinforces these restrictions. The Supreme Court has demanded a detailed report on the issue, while the Advocates’ Association of Bengaluru has called for a temporary halt to live-streaming and urged judges to exercise greater sensitivity during proceedings.