Supreme Court Directs All Courts to Be Transcription-Enabled: A Leap Toward Transparent Justice
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- 21 Apr 2025 --
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In a move that will modernize the Indian judicial system, the Supreme Court of India has directed all High Courts and subordinate courts to implement real-time digital transcription and audio-video recording of court proceedings.
This direction stems from the larger goal of ensuring transparency, accountability, and accessibility within the Indian judiciary—one of the most backlogged systems in the world.
The Background: A Call for Recordable Justice
The move came after concerns were raised in a writ petition regarding:
- Inconsistent court records
- The absence of accurate transcripts of oral arguments
- Lack of public accessibility to what transpires in open courtrooms
The petitioner argued that modern technology should be used to make courts more citizen-friendly and trustworthy.
The Court’s Observations: Open Court Must Mean Open Record
A Constitution Bench led by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud noted:
1. Technology Is No Longer Optional
- Real-time recording ensures accountability of both the Bar and the Bench.
- It also helps appellate courts during review and reduces delays caused by inaccurate documentation.
2. Transparency Strengthens Democracy
- Courts function in public interest. Hence, the public has a right to know how justice is delivered.
- Transcriptions will also help in legal education, media reporting, and legal research.
3. Judiciary Must Embrace the Digital Age
- The Court emphasized that a phased national rollout plan must be in place, starting with constitutional benches, followed by High Courts and trial courts.
Implementation Blueprint
The Supreme Court ordered:
- The e-Committee of the SC to finalize standards and software protocols
- Each High Court to appoint a transcription officer
- Central and State governments to allocate funds within 6 months
A Justice System That Speaks Clearly
This order is a significant push toward a judiciary that is not just seen to be fair—but heard and recorded as fair. Real-time court transcripts will serve as a living archive of justice, and ensure that courts of law become courts of record—for real.
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