Allahabad HC Preventing Live Reporting Of Its Hearing Raises Concerns Regarding Freedom Of Press To Cover Court Proceedings

In a recent PIL challenging Rahul Gandhi's election, the Allahabad High Court controversially expelled a LiveLaw reporter for live-tweeting court proceedings. The reporter, Sparsh Upadhyay, was silently documenting the session via mobile, prompting Justice Alok Mathur and Justice Arun Kumar Singh Deshwal to instruct him to cease reporting inside the courtroom and continue outside. This incident raises concerns about journalistic freedom and public access to judicial transparency. Despite constitutional guarantees, such actions risk undermining public trust in judiciary accountability. Notably, the Supreme Court advocates for open courts, emphasizing transparency except in specific cases. This clash underscores ongoing tensions between media freedom and judicial control, especially regarding real-time reporting. The event is pivotal amid broader discussions on the role of media in democracy and the judiciary's responsibility towards transparency and public confidence.