CJI Surya Kant says he has requested all HCs to conduct online hearings
New Delhi, May 21
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Thursday said that he had requested all High Courts across the country to conduct hearings virtually, adding that most of them had already implemented the arrangement.
The remarks of the CJI came after a lawyer sought an urgent hearing of a plea seeking directions for all courts in Delhi to function online as a fuel conservation measure.
Saying that he had already written to the Chief Justices of High Courts requesting them to facilitate virtual hearings, CJI added that it would not be appropriate to issue such directions on the judicial side.
"It may not be appropriate to issue directions on the judicial side. I have already requested the Chief Justices. Most have already implemented. It has to be voluntary exercise by both the Bar and the Bench," CJI Kant told the lawyer.
When the counsel argued that virtual hearings should be introduced before all Delhi district courts in the "national interest", the CJI pointed out that district courts function under the administrative control of the respective High Courts and, therefore, it would be for the High Courts to decide the issue administratively.
CJI said that he had also requested the High Courts, through a letter, to consider extending the arrangement to district courts.
"District courts are the domain of High Courts. District courts are in the administrative domain of High Courts. Let them take the call... I have requested them for district courts also," he said.
The development came after the Supreme Court recently introduced a set of administrative measures aimed at fuel conservation, including mandatory virtual hearings for certain categories of cases on miscellaneous working days and partial working days.
Subsequently, after representations from members of the Bar, the apex court clarified that while advocates were encouraged to appear virtually, physical appearance would still be permitted in unavoidable circumstances.
The fuel-saving measures were adopted by the Union government in light of the West Asia crisis arising from the US-Iran conflict.
— ANI
Reader Comments
It's good that the CJI is encouraging online hearings, but "requesting" is not enough. 😤 We need a clear directive, especially for district courts where millions of cases are pending. In places like rural UP or Bihar, many lawyers don't have reliable internet or devices. How will they cope? The government should ensure proper infrastructure—high-speed internet, laptops, and training—before pushing this. Otherwise, it will only benefit the urban elite.
As someone who follows Indian legal news from abroad, I find this fascinating. The CJI's balanced approach—making it voluntary for both Bar and Bench—shows respect for the independence of the judiciary. But I wonder, is this purely about fuel conservation, or is it a step toward a more efficient justice system? In the US, many courts have embraced virtual hearings permanently post-pandemic. India could learn from that, but the digital divide is a real concern.
Jio, yeh online hearing ka drama! 🙄 Why can't they just issue a simple order? The CJI says "it has to be voluntary," but when will we see real action? In Delhi, the air is chokingly polluted and the traffic is a nightmare. Virtual hearings would save so much time and energy. But I worry about the elderly judges and lawyers who struggle with technology. We need to make it accessible for everyone, not just the tech-savvy.
I'm a lawyer in Mumbai, and I have mixed feelings. Virtual hearings are convenient, but they reduce the human element of court proceedings. A handshake, a glance, the atmosphere of the courtroom—these matter in our profession. However, given the fuel crisis and environmental concerns, we need to adapt. The CJI's letter to High Courts is a good start, but why stop at courts? Even our parliament and state assemblies should consider hybrid sessions.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.