The Supreme Court is exploring ways to set up more virtual courts to ensure that the lockdown and apprehensions over the spread of Covid-19 do not adversely impact timely delivery of justice.
With the extension of the national lockdown and likelihood of a graded lifting of the lockdown, the apex court is working towards making virtual litigation a reality, said people with knowledge of the matter.
Currently, the Supreme Court holds three virtual courts through videoconferencing to hear a few urgent matters. The SC hopes to increase the number of virtual courts so that more cases can be taken up by more judges.
In a notice issued on Saturday, SC has asked parties who want matters related to death penalty and family law to be taken up through videoconferencing to furnish their joint consent(s) by April 24.
“Short category matters, death penalty matters and matters related to family law, which are ready, may be listed for hearing through videoconferencing mode subject to availability of the concerned bench and prior approval of the Chief Justice of India. The parties desirous of taking up such matters for hearing through videoconferencing, may furnish their joint consent along with particulars of the matter (s) at the earliest by April 24 on consent.list@sci.nic.in,” reads the circular issued by Additional Registrar of the Supreme Court on April 18.
“A virtual system of judicial dispensation needs to be readied should the lockdown extend. Even otherwise, returning to normalcy after the lifting of lockdown may take time. Thus, it is prudent that more virtual courts are set up so that timely delivery justice is not adversely impacted on account of the pandemic,” said a senior official, requesting anonymity.
“The focus is on how to make the virtual courts user friendly. Once it is achieved, more cases in addition to urgent matters can be listed for adjudication,” he added.
Sources quoted above said that the Supreme Court is contemplating to boost the infrastructure required for seamless functioning of virtual courts like installation of large screens and error-free web application(s) to enable smooth videoconferencing.
In a related development, the concerns of a few high courts refusing to entertain even urgent matters during the lockdown have been shared with the Supreme Court.
“Immediately after the national lockdown was announced last month, the chief justices of all high courts were urged by the Supreme Court to ensure that no urgent matters are denied hearing. Matters pertaining to life and liberty of an individual cannot be denied hearing at this juncture,” said the chief justice of a high court on condition of anonymity.
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