Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Bombay High Court Sets Fine, Confiscation for Unauthorized Recordings
The Bombay High Court says people cannot record court hearings without written permission.
The court noticed someone holding a phone with its flash on while a hearing was happening.
It said recordings of court proceedings had been happening more often.
The court warned that videos can be changed or shared in misleading ways online.
Anyone caught recording without permission may have their phone confiscated.
They may also have to pay a Rs 10,000 fine.
The court took up the issue on its own.
The Bombay High Court ordered confiscation of phones used to record proceedings without permission.
People caught recording may also face a fine of Rs 10,000.
The court said its rules expressly prohibit recording unless the registry gives written permission.
The court said unauthorized recordings were increasing and could be manipulated before being posted on social media.
A bench took suo motu cognisance after noticing a person with a mobile phone and its flash on during a hearing.
- Who
- The Bombay High Court, through a bench of Justices Girish S Kulkarni and Neela K Gokhale.
- What
- The court ordered confiscation of phones used to record proceedings without permission and a Rs 10,000 fine.
- When
- The bench took suo motu cognisance on October 5; the article does not specify the year.
- Where
- The Bombay High Court.
- Why
- The court said unauthorized recordings were increasing and could be manipulated and posted in distorted form on social media.
- Fine
- Rs 10,000 for recording proceedings without permission
- Additional consequence
- Confiscation of the mobile handset used
- Permission required
- Written permission from the High Court registry
- Court rules
- The article says the rules expressly bar recording proceedings without permission.
- Bench
- Justices Girish S Kulkarni and Neela K Gokhale
- Incident cited
- At about 12:23 pm, a person in the last row was seen holding a phone with its flash on.