Bombay High Court to Launch Live Streaming of Proceedings from July 7
Mumbai, 5th July 2025: In a significant move towards judicial transparency, the Bombay High Court will begin live streaming court proceedings from Monday, July 7, across its principal bench in Mumbai as well as its benches in Aurangabad, Nagpur, and Goa.
The High Court issued an official notification on Thursday, confirming that the “Rules for Live Streaming and Recording of Court Proceedings” will come into effect on July 7. These rules were formally approved by the Maharashtra state government on July 1.
Select Proceedings to Be Livestreamed
Live streaming will be conducted only with the consent of the presiding judge or judges, and not all cases will be eligible. The rules specify that sensitive matters will be excluded from public broadcast. These include:
Cases involving sexual offences
Gender-based violence and crimes against women
Matters under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act
Cases under the Juvenile Justice Act
Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) cases
Any proceedings that may incite communal disharmony or disrupt public order
Additionally, the recording of witness testimonies and cross-examinations will not be permitted for live broadcast. In instances where live streaming is not allowed, the proceedings will still be recorded and preserved by the court as per protocol.
The rules underline that the final discretion to permit or deny live streaming rests solely with the bench hearing the matter.
A Decade-Long Demand Comes to Fruition
The move marks a major milestone in the efforts to make the judicial system more accessible and transparent to the public. Advocate Mathews Nedumpara, one of the earliest proponents of live court broadcasts, welcomed the decision, calling it a significant step forward.
“This is a proud moment and a validation of a dream that began over a decade ago,” said Nedumpara, who had been actively advocating for live streaming since 2010.
“Public access to courtrooms will deepen faith in the judiciary and allow law students, citizens, and the media to better understand the judicial process.”
Empowering Citizens and Legal Stakeholders
Legal experts believe that the implementation of live streaming will enhance public accountability, legal education, and journalistic accuracy. It is also expected to provide a valuable resource for law students and young lawyers by giving them direct exposure to courtroom dynamics.
However, the High Court has made it clear that care must be taken to protect the dignity of the proceedings, and to respect the privacy and sensitivity of certain cases. The initiative follows similar practices already introduced by the Supreme Court of India, which began live streaming constitution bench hearings in 2022.
A Measured Rollout with Safeguards
Officials say the rollout will be gradual and carefully monitored to avoid misuse. The court will employ designated teams to manage the live feed and ensure that technical quality and ethical standards are upheld.
Live streaming will initially cover select proceedings, with future expansion based on experience and feedback. Viewers will be able to access the livestream through official High Court channels and websites, though full guidelines for public access are expected to be detailed soon.
With this development, the Bombay High Court joins a growing number of courts in India embracing technology to foster judicial transparency and improve public engagement with the legal system.
