Madhya Pradesh HC Halts Live Streaming of Criminal Case Hearings from Sept 15

Swift Summary

• The Madhya Pradesh High Court has temporarily halted live streaming of hearings for criminal cases starting september 15, 2025.
• This decision comes as an interim order from a division Bench led by Chief Justice sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL).
• The PIL alleges misuse of live-streamed court proceedings on social media, including the creation of reels, clips, and memes that show hearings in a bad light.
• Court ordered the registry to:

– Immediately stop live streaming criminal matter hearings.
– Provide unrestricted access via Webex links for those seeking to view proceedings online but without recording permissions.

• Advocate Arihant Tiwari highlighted during the case that Madhya Pradesh’s online courtroom proceedings were reportedly the most viewed in India, warranting precaution against distortion or misuse.
• The matter is scheduled for further hearing on September 25.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The temporary suspension of live streaming by the Madhya Pradesh High Court underscores evolving concerns about balancing clarity with ethical usage in digital platforms. While live-streaming judicial processes promotes accessibility and public engagement with justice delivery systems, its misuse-such as distortion through social media clips-highlights new challenges that require thoughtful regulation. By allowing Webex links and restricting recording capabilities, the order seeks to preserve openness while mitigating risks like sensationalism or trivialization of court proceedings. The upcoming hearing on September 25 will likely delve deeper into how courts can safeguard their dignity in an increasingly digital era without compromising transparency.

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