Re BYANSI (FOND)

Re BYANSI (FOND)

The Supreme Court held that requiring journalists to obtain prior written permission to record audio or video in courtrooms is a necessary and appropriate measure to ensure the orderly conduct of proceedings and to protect the rights and privacy of litigants and witnesses. The restriction is not unconstitutional as...

Source-derived case information.

Citation
RS/INCONST/SPEC 00003/2021/SC
Parties
Applicant: Byansi Samuel Baker; Respondent: Republic of Rwanda
Court
Supreme Court
Jurisdiction
Rwanda
Judgment Date
25 March 2022
Case Number
RS/INCONST/SPEC 00003/2021/SC
Procedural Posture
Constitutional Petition / Final Judgment
Outcome
petition dismissed
Legal Topics
Freedom of the Press, Right to Information, Courtroom Recording, Privacy Rights, Open Justice
Source Language
rw
Constitutional Law Media Law Civil Procedure Freedom of the Press Right to Information Courtroom Recording Privacy Rights Open Justice

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Parties

Byansi Samuel Baker

Applicant

Republic of Rwanda

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Constitutional Petition / Final Judgment

  1. 1 Whether Article 71(5) of Law No. 22/2018 requiring prior written permission to record audio or video in courtrooms is unconstitutional for violating Article 38 of the Constitution guaranteeing freedom of the press.

Ratio Decidendi

The Supreme Court held that requiring journalists to obtain prior written permission to record audio or video in courtrooms is a necessary and appropriate measure to ensure the orderly conduct of proceedings and to protect the rights and privacy of litigants and witnesses. The restriction is not unconstitutional as it does not negate the principle of open justice or press freedom but provides a reasonable framework for their exercise. The petition to declare Article 71(5) of Law No. 22/2018 unconstitutional was dismissed as unfounded.

Court Disposition

petition dismissed

Orders

  • The petition by Byansi Samuel Baker is dismissed as unfounded.
  • Article 71(5) of Law No. 22/2018 is not unconstitutional and remains in force.