Are Courts Refusing To Permit Video Conferencing Hearings: Supreme Courts Asks Registrar Generals Of High Courts & Tribunals

In the present matter, the petitioner appearing in person stipulated that the Video Conferencing facilities which have been set up by the High Court of Punjab and Haryana are not being put to use and the High Court has completely disbanded the use of the Video Conferencing facilities.

Therefore, a bench of Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice J.B. Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra thus directed, “The Registrar Generals of the High Courts and the Registrars of the Tribunals shall intimate this Court as to whether hearings in the hybrid mode are being allowed or whether the facilities have been disbanded. They shall also file an affidavit before this Court within a period of two weeks from today. They shall indicate: (i) How many video conferencing hearings have taken place in the last three months; and (ii) Whether any courts are declining to permit video conferencing hearings”.

Accordingly, the Court issued notice to the Registrar General of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana. Additionally, issued notice to the Registrar General of all the High Courts which shall be communicated by the Registrar (Judicial) through email.

The Bench also issued notice to the Registrars of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, and the National Green Tribunal.

The Bench further requested the Solicitor General to assist the Court on the availability of hybrid hearings in the Debt Recovery Tribunals, Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunals, Customs Excise and Service Tax Appellate Tribunal, Income Tax Appellate Tribunal and other Tribunals under the various Ministries.

The bench has listed the matter for further hearing on October 6, 2023.

Cause Title: Sarvesh Mathur v. The Registrar General High Court of Punjab And Haryana

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