SC Restricts Social Media Posting of Court Proceedings

The Supreme Court of India issued an interim order on 24 July 2026 that prohibits the posting, reposting, uploading, sharing, editing, modification, dissemination, or monetisation of audio-video recordings of court proceedings on social media and other digital platforms without prior permission. The order applies to recordings of judicial proceedings and covers clips extracted from live-streamed hearings.

Interim Order on Court Proceedings

The interim direction was passed by a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana. The order was issued during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation filed by journalist Harshita Grover.

Scope of the Restriction

The restriction covers audio and video recordings of court proceedings, including extraction, editing, modification, dissemination, reposting, uploading, sharing, and monetisation. The Supreme Court stated that the interim direction will not affect bona fide news reporting of court proceedings.

Live-Streaming and Digital Platforms

The court sought responses from the Centre and social media intermediaries, including Meta and X, on the misuse of live-streamed proceedings. The interim order followed concerns over selective and decontextualised circulation of clips from judicial hearings.

Important Facts for Exams

• Public Interest Litigation is a legal mechanism used in India to seek judicial remedies on matters of public concern.
• Live-streaming of court proceedings has been used in India to increase public access to judicial hearings.
• Social media intermediaries are digital platforms that host, transmit, or enable user-generated content.
• The Supreme Court of India functions as the apex court under Article 124 of the Constitution of India.

Judicial Decorum and Procedure

Judicial proceedings in India are governed by rules of procedure, courtroom discipline, and restrictions on unauthorised recording. The present interim order concerns the circulation of court content on digital platforms and not the conduct of ordinary news reporting.