SC administration is working on a module that can prepare transcripts simultaneously in various regional languages: CJI during same-sex marriage recognition proceedings

During the proceedings of the same-sex marriage case on May 09, 2023, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud said that the Supreme Court (SC) administration is working on providing transcripts of the hearing simultaneously in different regional languages. It will help people from all parts of the country to understand the proceedings without language barriers. The statement came after the senior counsel Rakesh Dwivedi mentioned that live-streaming of the SC proceedings in same-sex marriage recognition has brought about a churning in society and people from all over the world are talking about it. CJI agreed with Counsel Dwivedi and said, “Live-streaming of court proceedings has really taken our courts to the homes and hearts of the common citizens. And that’s how it should be because that’s part of the process.”

Further, the difficulties faced by people who do not know English was addressed by Dwivedi as the official language of conducting proceedings in the Supreme Court is English. He said, “All debates happen in English in the Supreme Court, and people living in villages or small towns cannot understand and follow the same. Language problem in India is complex.” However, CJI replied, “You will be surprised that we are working even on that Mr Dwivedi. Even that is not lost to the SC on the administrative side. We are working on it…we are trying to use technology to ensure that live-streaming content can be simultaneously made available in other languages too.” Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal further mentioned that technology will not only help to translate the transcripts in different languages but proceedings could also be made available in different regional languages. 

In September 2022, the Supreme Court began online streaming of the Constitution bench proceedings. While giving a judgment in September 2018, the Supreme Court declared that a live telecast of the proceedings is part of the right to access justice under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. Later in February this year, the top Court introduced live transcription of proceedings for the first time with the help of high-tech tools and Artificial Intelligence.