New Delhi, May 21: The Supreme Court has received a petition requesting that all cases in Delhi’s courts be heard exclusively through video conferencing. The petitioner’s lawyer presented the matter before a bench led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and urged for an expedited hearing.
The CJI informed the lawyer that he has already requested the Chief Justices of all High Courts to enhance the use of video conferencing for hearings. He noted that most High Courts are already utilizing this system.
The CJI further clarified that this is a facility that can be easily implemented at the discretion and agreement of judges and lawyers. No court can be compelled to enforce it mandatorily.
The lawyer requested the bench to direct that online hearings be made mandatory in Delhi courts for at least three months. In response, the Chief Justice stated that the administrative control of district courts lies with the respective High Courts. The Supreme Court has urged High Courts to promote video conferencing in district courts as well, emphasizing that the authority to make decisions in this matter rests with the High Courts.
This petition is seen as an effort to make the video conferencing system, initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic, a permanent feature and to reduce crowding in courts. Video conferencing saves time and resources for lawyers, clients, and judges, proving particularly beneficial for those traveling from remote areas.
The Chief Justice of India also indicated that increasing the use of technology is essential for making court proceedings more transparent and accessible. However, he suggested that it is better to adopt such measures voluntarily rather than imposing them forcibly. The Supreme Court has yet to set a date for further hearings on this petition.
Currently, some cases in the Delhi High Court and district courts are already utilizing video conferencing, but the petitioner is advocating for it to be mandatory for all types of cases.
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