PIL in HC on live telecast, webcast of TN assembly proceedings

The Madras High Court today posted for further hearing to July 1 a PIL seeking live telecast and webcast of state assembly proceedings.
The Lok Satta Party state unit president D Jagadeeswaran had filed the PIL before the First Bench comprising the then Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivagnanam in 2012.
Pointing out that the assembly proceedings in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh were being telecast, the PIL contended that in Tamil Nadu though the proceedings were covered in whole by the media, only edited version was released to the media for telecast.
"The citizens' right to know what business transpires in the state legislative assembly is being curtailed by the state by releasing only selective videos," it said.

When the matter came up today before the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice T.S.Sivagnanam, a counter affidavit was filed by the Assembly Secretariat stating that the live telecast or live webcast of the assembly proceedings in its entirety involves several questions which had to be examined in detail in consultation with various agencies.
Besides, the issue is pertaining to the state legislature, an independent body having sovereign right to conduct its affairs.

The bench, after recording the submissions, said in its order that "as far as the Legislative Assembly is concerned, it is admitted that there is no express provision of live telecast of proceedings nor there is any prohibition for the same."

"The moot point thus would be as to whether even after more than a decade of Parliament having commenced telecast of its proceedings, the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu feels that it is in a position to telecast its proceedings or not. We note that the affidavit at present was filed in September 2012 and almost three years have elapsed since then."
The bench then recorded the submission of the Advocate General that he will obtain instructions whether in the near future, there is any possibility that the state assembly would be inclined to telecast its proceedings on the same basis as being done in respect of both Houses of Parliament and posted the matter for further hearing to July 1.