Jaipur, May 22: In a significant move aimed at reducing fuel consumption and operational costs, the Rajasthan High Court administration has decided to conduct court proceedings via video conferencing for three days. This initiative will take place at both the Jodhpur Principal Bench and the Jaipur Bench.
Registrar General Chanchal Mishra announced this pilot initiative in a notice released on Wednesday, stating that virtual hearings will occur on May 22, May 26, and May 27.
This decision follows a memorandum issued by the Government of India’s Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on May 12, along with a circular from the Supreme Court on May 15. Both documents emphasize promoting fuel conservation while ensuring uninterrupted judicial operations across all institutions.
According to the order, all courts operating under the Jodhpur Principal Bench and Jaipur Bench will conduct proceedings through video conferencing on the specified dates.
However, the Rajasthan High Court administration clarified that in-person hearings will not be entirely suspended. Courts will continue to hold physical hearings whenever deemed necessary.
This initiative was finalized after consultations with the High Court Bar Associations of both the Jodhpur Principal Bench and the Jaipur Bench.
The High Court administration has appealed to lawyers, litigants, and other stakeholders involved in the judicial process to opt for virtual hearings wherever possible, thereby contributing to this fuel conservation effort.
In addition to encouraging virtual participation, lawyers and court attendees are advised to minimize unnecessary travel and adopt vehicle pooling methods to save petrol and diesel.
This step is particularly significant as there is an increasing focus on fuel conservation, environmental sustainability, and cost-effective administrative operations across all institutions.
The initiative comes shortly after Justice Sameer Jain was seen cycling to the Jaipur Bench of the Rajasthan High Court, which drew considerable public attention towards fuel conservation and environmental awareness.
Legal circles believe that if this pilot initiative proves successful, similar measures promoting hybrid or virtual operations may be considered in future administrative plans, especially in situations where physical presence is not mandatory.
Furthermore, the High Court administration has assured that there will be no adverse impact on judicial work and access to justice. Necessary arrangements are being made to ensure that judicial proceedings run smoothly on the designated virtual hearing days.
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