The Bombay High Court on Friday directed Youtube and Google to delete videos shot capturing proceedings in courtrooms.
A Division Bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Anuja Prabhudessai was hearing a petition filed by the Bombay Bar Association seeking contempt proceedings to be initiated against a lawyer and a group. Last week, Right Mirror uploaded a 38-minute video of the proceedings held in the courtroom of Justice S.J. Kathawalla.
Advocate General Rohit Deo gave his consent to initiate contempt action against the guilty. The court said, “Considering the scandalous and contemptuous nature of the video we are inclined to order the respondents to forthwith remove the offending videos.” The court issued a show cause notice to YouTube and Google and sought to know why proceedings under contempt of court should not be initiated against them by March 24.
The Bench said, “Under the Information Technology Act, the Union government is not powerless. It shall ensure that our order is implemented. We would like to hear the government’s stance too.” Ever since the video went viral, the HC has banned the use of cell phones in court rooms for advocates and litigants.
