Video Recordings of Proceedings Cannot Be Used as Evidence: Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court dismissed a PIL seeking mandatory audio-video recording of Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission (MERC) proceedings, holding that recordings of judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings cannot be used as evidence in any other court.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad emphasised that recording court proceedings is prohibited, and open-court hearings already ensure transparency.

The Court observed that the PIL was filed out of personal grievance and amounted to private interest litigation, warning against the misuse of the PIL mechanism for publicity-driven motives.

[Kamlakar Ratnakar Shenoy v Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission]