New Delhi: The Supreme Court has clarified that its earlier interim order regulating the use of audio and video recordings of live-streamed court hearings does not impose a blanket prohibition on news organisations reporting on court proceedings.
A Bench comprising the Chief Justice of India, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana was hearing a batch of petitions, led by Harshita Grover v. Union of India & Ors., concerning the regulation of live streaming and recording of court proceedings.
Also Read: SC Restricts Social Media Sharing of Courtroom Videos: “Not an Entertainment Channel”
The clarification arose in relation to paragraph 11 of the Court's earlier order dated 24 July 2026, which had led to some confusion regarding its scope. The Bench clarified that recognised news outlets remain free to report on court proceedings and inform the public of legal developments and judicial pronouncements, but may not use audio or video clips of the proceedings themselves in such reportage. News outlets, the Court noted, continue to remain bound by the restrictions set out in paragraph 10 of the earlier order.
The Court held: “Such outlets may, therefore, continue to report on the proceedings and inform the general public of legal developments and judicial pronouncements, save that audio or video clips of the court proceedings shall not be utilised in the course of such reportage. In sum, while news outlets may continue to report on the court proceedings, they shall nonetheless remain bound by the restrictions set out in paragraph 10.”
Accordingly, paragraph 11 of the order dated 24 July 2026 was clarified to that extent.
On the earlier date of hearing, the Court had directed the Union of India to place on record, in consultation with the Nodal Ministries, a proposal to give effect to the prayers made in the petitions, and had called upon the jurisdictional High Courts to file status reports on their adoption of the Model Rules for Live Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings circulated by the Supreme Court.
The Bench also allowed an intervention application (IA No. 219940/2026), permitting the applicants to assist the Court as intervenors, and granted the respondents four weeks' time to file their counter affidavit.
The matter has been listed next for hearing on 18 September 2026.
Case Title: Harshita Grover v. Union of India & Ors., Writ Petition (Civil) No. 751/2026 (Supreme Court of India)
