BENGALURU: Pointing out that Bengaluru is called the ‘Silicon Valley of India’, the high court has said the state government must immediately consider its proposal and provide proper infrastructure to enable videoconference hearings in all courts. It suggested that Karnataka could become a role model on this front for other states.
The observations were made during the hearing of a sou-motu PIL. Video-conferencing facilities have become essential for the continuity of proceedings in the wake of the pandemic.
A division bench headed by chief justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka noted that the high court administration had decided that a hybrid system should be set up in all district courts. In this system, members of the bar can attend hearings physically or through the video option. There is also a suggestion to subscribe to the licensed version of the Zoom application, which is used by the high court.
“The state government and high court should ensure that the best possible infrastructure for holding videoconference hearings is provided to all the courts in Karnataka. We are sure that the government will immediately consider the proposal submitted by the high court administration,” the bench said in its order.
It added that the first and second waves of Covid-19 had badly affected the functioning of district and trial courts, and lockdowns had led to a case backlog. “Deliberations are going on about the possibility of a third wave of Covid-19 and therefore, as observed by this court in earlier orders, the judicial system has to be in the state of preparedness to face this wave. There cannot be any dispute that all the courts in the state should have a proper hybrid videoconference system in place,” the bench said.
Meanwhile, with Covid-19 related guidelines still in place, the high court has extended the validity of interim orders passed by various courts till August 2. But parties involved have been given the option of moving the court or tribunal concerned to get such orders vacated.
