The Supreme Court has sought the report from the union on virtual hearing facilities at tribunals such as CESTAT, ITAT, NCLAT, NCLT, AFT, NCDRC, NGT, SAT, CAT, DRATs and DRTs etc, operating under different Ministries of the union Government.
The bench of Justice Hrishikesh Roy and Justice S.V.N. Bhatti has called for a report from the Central Government on the demand of providing the facility of virtual hearing in tribunal courts.
The petitions was filed against the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, alleging that the High Court discontinued the option of virtual hearing which was made available during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
Considering a submission from the petitioner-in-person and Senior Advocate Nidhesh Gupta that the facility has now been made available, the Court dismissed this petition as withdrawn.
The Amicus Curiae submits that in the High Courts across the country, the video conferencing facility is available and is being provided. But in the Tribunals under the Union Government, efforts are needed to provide for convenient virtual hearing to the learned counsel for the parties.
Mr. V. Giri, learned Senior Counsel, pointed out that the facility to argue through virtual mode has been a great boon for women lawyers. This has considerably empowered women lawyers who for logistical and other reasons, on occasions are unable to appear and personally argue matters.
The court directed that Vikramjeet Banerjee, the learned ASG and the respective counsel will collate the necessary information on effective availability of video conferencing facility for the lawyers and litigants, in the respective Tribunals.
The court directed that the report shall be submitted within four weeks.
Case Details
Case Title: Sarvesh Mathur v. The Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court
Case No.: W.P.(Crl) No.351/2023
Date: 02-01-2025
