In a first, Calcutta High Court judge allows journalists to record proceedings

In a first, an unprecedented move, Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday allowed reporters present in the courtroom to record the proceedings of the West Bengal teacher recruitment scam case in which TMC leader Anubrata Mondal’s daughter Sukanya had to appear along with five others.

They were directed to appear with their  Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) certificates and appointment letters.

On Thursday, Justice Gangopadhyay told the court, “For this hearing, I would allow journalists to use their mobile phones and record the court proceedings. I request that the proceedings not be live streamed on Facebook or anywhere similar but the reporters are encouraged to keep a video record of the proceedings today”.

According to a report in India Today, several lawyers immediately objected to it. One of them said, “Don’t turn this courtroom into a bazaar. It is earning you a very bad name amongst the bar. It may be good for the reporters, but you open the TV and from morning to evening your face is on it. Kindly don’t do this”. To which the publication quoted Justice Gangopadhyay as responding, “These are open court proceedings”.

Another lawyer tried to threaten the judge with an alleged "rumour" that reporters visit his chambers. “Yes, they come to my chamber” Justice Gangopadhyay said, “What’s objectionable in that?”.