Sibal for audio recording of trial court proceedings

Law minister Kapil Sibal today said he favours audio recording of proceedings in the trial courts and will discuss the idea with chief justices of high courts across the country.

Law minister Kapil Sibal on Friday said he favours audio recording of proceedings in the trial courts and will discuss the idea with chief justices of high courts across the country. “We want that to bring transparency, at least the proceedings are audio recorded but the government cannot do this on its own,” Sibal told reporters.

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“We will discuss it with judiciary, chief justices, because trial courts fall under high courts and till the high courts approve this, it cannot be implemented. But our talks will continue,” the minister said.

Sibal stated that although the courts are public places, but due to lack of recording facilities, nobody knows what is happening inside them.

“In other countries, proceedings of trial courts are audio-recorded but not in India.... What the judge is saying, witness is saying, cross examination is saying, how work is taking place, nobody knows although the courts are public places,” he said.

Sibal, who was given the charge of law ministry on May 11, in addition to the telecom portfolio,also said he is working on a video conferencing facility to remain in touch with the law officers posted in the Supreme Court and 24 high courts of the country. The UPA government has consistently maintained that lower courts where around 2.5 crore cases are pending, require sweeping changes including improvement in infrastructure and recruitment of judges to bring down this “mountain of pendency.”