Karnataka to pilot live streaming, video hearings in revenue courts

The Karnataka government has approved the conduct of revenue court proceedings online and the introduction of live streaming and video-conferencing facilities on a pilot basis in Bengaluru Urban district.

Aimed at improving transparency and reducing the need for citizens to make repeated visits to government offices, the pilot will cover all quasi-judicial authorities of the Revenue Department in the district.

Through RCCMS

According to a Government Order issued on December 30, the initiative will be implemented through the Revenue Court Case Management System (RCCMS), which enables electronic filing, online scrutiny, hearing scheduling, case tracking and the issuance of digitally signed orders.

The pilot will apply to authorities, including the Revenue Commissioner, Regional Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners and Tahsildars, as well as officers of the Survey, Settlement and Land Records wing and other notified authorities.

The move follows concerns over the absence of clear rules governing the functioning of revenue courts, which had in some instances resulted in orders being passed beyond jurisdiction. It also draws support from Supreme Court rulings recognising live streaming of court proceedings as a measure to enhance transparency, accountability and access to justice, the order stated.

Live streaming  

According to the order, quasi-judicial hearings will ordinarily be live-streamed. Presiding officers, however, can exempt proceedings or parts of hearings involving sensitive personal data, vulnerable persons or matters affecting public interest, provided reasons are recorded in writing.

Litigants will be allowed to participate in hearings through video conferencing after digital verification of identity and prior uploading of documents on the RCCMS platform. All live-streamed and video-conferencing hearings will be digitally recorded and archived as part of the official electronic case record.

The pilot will run for three months from operational readiness, after which the Revenue Commissioner will submit an evaluation report. Based on feedback and assessment, the system may be expanded in phases to other districts.

An oversight committee headed by the Principal Secretary, Revenue Department, will monitor implementation. The government said the initiative is part of its broader push for e-governance and long-term systemic reforms aimed at improving access to justice, strengthening public trust and making revenue administration more citizen-friendly and accountable.