logo
Court proceedings cannot be recorded without nod, warns Punjab & Haryana HC

Court proceedings cannot be recorded without nod, warns Punjab & Haryana HC

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has released a public notice cautioning individuals against recording court proceedings without authorisation. This directive applies to all courtrooms in the high court as well as district courts across Punjab, Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, Bar and Bench reported.
The court emphasised that electronic devices used for such recordings are liable to be seized. It also warned that those found violating the directive may face contempt of court proceedings.
'All the parties/litigants and public at large are hereby informed that recording of court proceedings by any person or entity is prohibited in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the District Courts in the state of Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh. In case any person/entity is found violating these orders, appropriate action can be taken by the concerned court including confiscation of electronic gadget used for recording of proceedings and initiation of contempt proceedings against such person/entity,' the Registrar General said in a statement issued on Wednesday.
In line with other high courts
The move aligns with similar measures implemented by other High Courts of India. The Uttarakhand High Court, for instance, has also explicitly prohibited unauthorised usage or recording of virtual hearings.
'Any unauthorised usage/recording of video conferencing facility through any means will be punishable as an offence under the Indian Copyright Act, 1957, I T Act, 2000, and other provisions of law, including the law of contempt,' reads a notice on the official website of the Uttarakhand High Court.
Man fined for recording court proceedings
In March this year, the Bombay High Court levied a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on a Navi Mumbai resident who was caught recording a court hearing without permission. The incident occurred during the hearing of a property dispute before Justices AS Gadkari and Kamal Khata.
Court staff noticed Sajid Abdul Jabbar Patel filming the proceedings and confronted him. Patel claimed to be related to some of the respondents. Advocate Hiten Venegaonkar, representing the respondents, confirmed that Patel had not been authorised to record the session. His mobile phone was subsequently confiscated and handed over to the court registry.
'He fairly submitted that the act of the said person cannot be justified. However, he requested this court to show leniency to him as this is his first act and therefore may not take stringent action against him,' the Bench recorded. Patel agreed to deposit Rs 1 lakh into the High Court Employees Medical Welfare Fund within three days.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Fake embassy of fictional nations busted in Ghaziabad; Luxury cars, diplomatic gear seized
Fake embassy of fictional nations busted in Ghaziabad; Luxury cars, diplomatic gear seized

Hans India

time21 minutes ago

  • Hans India

Fake embassy of fictional nations busted in Ghaziabad; Luxury cars, diplomatic gear seized

Ghaziabad: In a startling revelation, the Noida Special Task Force (STF) on Wednesday said that it uncovered a fake embassy being operated out of a rented bungalow in Ghaziabad's Kavi Nagar area of Uttar Pradesh. Parked outside the premises were several high-end vehicles fitted with fake diplomatic number plates, which were used to lend an air of legitimacy to the illegal setup. The alleged kingpin behind the operation, Harsh Vardhan Jain, was arrested at the spot, officials confirmed. As per preliminary findings, Jain had converted the bungalow into a so-called 'embassy' for imaginary or self-declared micronations. He also falsely claimed to represent other such fictional entities, including West Arctica, Saborga, Poulvia, and Lodonia. Authorities revealed that Jain posed as an ambassador of these so-called nations and used a range of tactics to deceive people. He used fake diplomatic number plates and other forged documents to build a show of authenticity. According to officers, his operation involved extensive use of deception, including the display of luxury cars and morphed photographs with global dignitaries such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former President Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, and some international leaders. These doctored images were reportedly used to influence unsuspecting individuals and project himself as a powerful global figure. The pictures seized from the spot also reveal Jain's possible ties with international arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi and controversial self-styled godman Chandraswami. Acting on intelligence received from central agencies, STF personnel conducted a raid on July 22 and apprehended Jain from the premises. The investigation has since revealed that Jain's scam was not limited to his fake diplomatic identity. His racket involved conning individuals and companies by promising assistance in overseas business ventures and employment opportunities abroad. Authorities also suspect he operated a hawala network through shell companies to further his illegal dealings. Officials noted that a satellite phone was recovered from Jain back in 2011. During the latest raid, a large cache of forged diplomatic materials was seized. This included four luxury vehicles bearing fake diplomatic plates, 12 counterfeit diplomatic passports linked to fictitious micronations, two fake PAN cards, forged documents with the seals of the Ministry of External Affairs, and 34 counterfeit seals purportedly from various countries and corporate entities. Additionally, officers found two fake press cards, a staggering Rs 44.7 lakh in cash, foreign currency from multiple nations, and 18 more fabricated diplomatic number plates. A new FIR has been registered at the Kavi Nagar police station, and further legal proceedings are underway. Authorities believe that more individuals could be involved in the scam. Investigations are underway.

High court slams Chandigarh DGGI for ‘psychological coercion' in 30-hour detention of businessman
High court slams Chandigarh DGGI for ‘psychological coercion' in 30-hour detention of businessman

Indian Express

time21 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

High court slams Chandigarh DGGI for ‘psychological coercion' in 30-hour detention of businessman

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has come down heavily on the Directorate General of Goods and Services Tax Intelligence (DGGI), Chandigarh, for holding a businessman in its zonal office for more than 30 hours in what it described as a case of 'psychological coercion', and for authorising his arrest 'without application of mind'. Justice Harpreet Singh Brar, in his order on petitions filed by Bharat Lal Garg and his wife Barkha Bansal, said the DGGI's claim that Garg remained in its office overnight on June 4 'of his own volition' was an 'illusionary choice'. 'When one is summoned to the office of a state-run agency and kept under constant watch, an atmosphere suggesting stepping out is not an option is created… the illusion of voluntariness renders any consent invalid,' the court said. Garg, a businessman, had been summoned to record his statement in connection with an ongoing investigation, during which data was extracted from his laptop for forensic analysis. The court noted that a cognisable offence had not been established at the time, rendering even consideration of his arrest 'premature'. The proposal to arrest him was moved only at 5.46 pm on June 5 and approved by the Additional Director General an hour later 'mechanically, without examining the material available' and without the mandatory Document Identification Number (DIN), making the authorisation 'deemed invalid'. The judge also pointed out that CCTV cameras at the zonal office were reportedly non-functional even though all other digital systems worked, calling the explanation 'incongruous'. Observing that Barkha Bansal had to approach the court to secure her husband's release, the judge stressed that statements of persons summoned must be recorded only during office hours and in the presence of their counsel if they so choose, with CCTV surveillance available on request. The additional director general of the DGGI, Chandigarh zonal unit, has been directed to file an affidavit before the next hearing showing full compliance with the Supreme Court's directions in Paramvir Singh Saini judgment, regarding the mandatory installation and maintenance of CCTV cameras in police stations, and to explain why the court's earlier order of July 2 seeking production of records was not complied with.

Job promises rain down in poll-bound Bihar. But what does the pursuit of one look like?
Job promises rain down in poll-bound Bihar. But what does the pursuit of one look like?

Indian Express

time21 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Job promises rain down in poll-bound Bihar. But what does the pursuit of one look like?

IT'S THE weekend, and Patna's Gandhi Maidan area is buzzing with thousands of youths from across Bihar. Their destination is the nearby Gyan Bhawan, more specifically a 'Maha Rojgar Mela (Grand Job Fair)' organised by the Indian Youth Congress (IYC). As the gates of the building swing open, the applicants rush in, collecting forms and making small huddles in the auditorium itself to fill them out. Once they have completed the forms, they join long queues snaking into the main hall. Inside, half the space is reserved for candidates awaiting interviews, while the other half has 199 stalls set up by 190 private companies, including household names such as Flipkart, Paytm, Hitachi, Tech Mahindra, Tata Alliance, Voltas, Zepto, and Aditya Birla. The youths make a beeline for these stalls, holding their registration forms, academic certificates, and resumes in hand. Among the multitude is 24-year-old Jyotish Kumar, who hopes the job fair is the answer to his 'financial problems'. Belonging to a village in Madhepura district, Kumar arrived in Patna first in 2019, seeking better education options and coaching for NEET. However, months later, his father was killed, while his mother, too, lost her job when the Centre's 'Sakshar Bharat Mission' for adult literacy wrapped up. Kumar went back, giving up on his dreams of becoming a doctor, and pursued a BSc in Zoology from Madhepura University. Now saddled with a Rs 3 lakh loan, he is back in Patna to support his mother. Though his first preference is a job in Bihar, he says he will move if needed. The story plays out across the hall. Md Mahbubur Rahman, 26, says he is an economics graduate from Saharsa, with an additional Bachelor of Library and Information Science degree, and certificates showing he has computer knowledge. It is an impressive resume, particularly as none of his siblings went past intermediate. However, that has not got Rahman the job he needs. So he is now pursuing another qualification: a BEd. 'I have been applying for government jobs since passing matric (Class 10) in 2015, and am now trying my luck in the private sector,' he says. Recently, he tried his luck for a government peon's post, despite his educational qualifications, Rahman says. With his large family including his parents, three brothers and two sisters, Rahman also tutors kids on the side to earn a little money. Trying to push through a crowd near a stall, Rahman says: 'Since there are no jobs in our family, our lives are stuck. Marriage prospects are also an issue.' The unemployment question is central to the discourse in Bihar as Assembly elections near. Political parties are trying to outdo each other with promises of job creation. With the RJD hoping its promises in this regard will work for it like they did in the 2000 elections, Chief Minister and JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar has also jumped in, vowing to create 1 crore jobs in the next five years. The job fair held by its Youth Congress is part of the Congress's push in this regard, including a 'Palayan Roko, Naukri Do (stop migration, give jobs) Yatra' it held in March. The numbers show why the promise of jobs resonates so much with voters. The Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) for July-September 2024, which contains data only for urban areas, puts Bihar's unemployment rate for those aged above 15 at 7.3%, which is above the national average of 6.4%, and for those aged 15-29 years at 23.2%, well above the national average of 15.9% and the sixth worst among the states. When it comes to the labour force participation rate (a measure of the share of the working-age population actively working or seeking work), Bihar has the worst figures in the country in the above 15 years and the 15-29 years categories. As per the 2011 Census data, the corollary is that Bihar ranks second among states in out-migration, beaten only by Uttar Pradesh. Rahman expects to join the migrant ranks. 'My father keeps telling us to try for jobs outside Bihar… After my I'll see.' Rahul Bansal, who has travelled three hours from Khagaria for the fair, says that all 'good jobs' are outside the state, which is also a problem for people like him. 'Even here at the mela, most of the location options are in other states. But in cities such as Mumbai, Pune, and Bengaluru, the expenses alone would eat up the entire salary. So, I prefer something here,' says the 29-year-old. While Rahman argues that Nitish Kumar's long tenure at the helm of the state has not benefited the youth, citing the leak of several exam question papers, 26-year-old Sagar Shan disagrees, talking about the recruitment of 'over 4 lakh teachers and 1 lakh constables alone'. From Nitish's native district of Nalanda, Shah has himself been trying for a government job since 2019. IYC national president Uday Bhanu Chib told The Indian Express that the Patna job fair saw 48,000 registrations, with more than 20,000 candidates interviewed, and 7,000 receiving job letters on the spot. Bihar Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru said the rush exposed the NDA government's 'false assurances' to the youth. 'We are providing them jobs so that they can achieve their dreams. Unemployment in Bihar is not just a number, but is about a long wait.' Congress spokesperson Gyan Ranjan Gupta added that if the IYC could facilitate so many jobs, 'imagine how many lakhs of jobs we will provide in Bihar itself when we come to power'. Asked about the Congress claims, JD(U) spokesperson Neeraj Kumar said, 'The amount of government employment provided in Bihar under Nitish ji's leadership is the reason why Bihar is ahead in the nation today in areas such as the student-to-teacher ratio and women's participation in the police force. The Congress, which now wants to bring 'Company Raj' here, should look at their own rule. When they were in power in Rajasthan, question papers were leaked 15 times.' Not surprisingly, not everyone went away happy from the Patna Maha Rojgar Mela. 'I rejected an offer of a Rs 20,000 sales job in Pune,' Patna resident Md Shabanul Haqe, 28, who did his MBA from Kolkata, says. 'After an expensive MBA, how can I manage in another city on this salary? Even non-graduates earn Rs 10,000-12,000 doing odd jobs.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store