Sealed cover jurisprudence
Topic: Judiciary: Independence, Structure, Judicial Review and Activism · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Sealed cover jurisprudence is the practice of courts taking information from the government in sealed envelopes. Only the judges see it, and the other side cannot read or answer it. The government usually claims secrecy or national security. Critics say it breaks the basic rule of a fair hearing, where each side must know the case against it.
Example
In Madhyamam Broadcasting (2023), the Supreme Court criticised the practice as unfair to the other side. In the One Rank One Pension case (2023), the Court refused to accept the government's sealed cover.
Related concepts
- Judicial accountability
- Subhash Chandra Agarwal case
- Master of the roster
- Live-streaming of court proceedings
- Recusal