Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Friday said technology is no longer a “matter of choice” for judges as the Supreme Court issued a slew of directions to ensure that hybrid mode for court hearings is not disbanded. “If you want to be a judge then you have to be tech-friendly,” he said.
The SC bench, comprising CJI Chandrachud as well as Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said no high court can deny access through video conferencing or hearing via hybrid mode to lawyers and litigants after two weeks.
The court was irked over minimal use of technology in ensuring hybrid hearings in high courts. “After the lapse of two weeks from this order, no high court shall deny access to video conference facility or hearing through hybrid facility to any member of the bar and litigants,” the bench said.
It also directed the high courts to put in place the standard operating procedures for availing access to hybrid or video conferencing hearings in four weeks. “We direct the Union IT ministry to ensure internet connectivity to courts in northeastern states to ensure access to online hearings,” it said.
Three weeks ago, the top court had sought a response from the central government, all 25 high courts and some tribunals — National Green Tribunal, National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, and National Consumer Dispute Redressal Commission — on whether they have disbanded the hybrid mode of hearing cases, allowing lawyers and litigants to appear in a matter through video-conferencing as well.
Last month, the union cabinet sanctioned Rs 7,210 crore for the third phase of the eCourts initiative.
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