The Allahabad High Court today (5th April), issued a warning, threatening action against judicial officers who obstruct the use of video conferencing in court proceedings. The court emphasized the importance of implementing video conferencing technology, especially when dealing with witnesses outside the district. Failure to comply with the directives regarding video conferencing may lead to disciplinary actions against non-compliant judicial officers. The court emphasizes the need for efficient utilization of modern technology in the legal system.
Allahabad :The Allahabad High Court recently stated that courts in Uttar Pradesh cannot ignore the issue of using video conference facilities. The Court warned that judicial officers who do not allow the use of video conference despite having the necessary infrastructure may face consequences.
Justice Vikram D Chauhan requested reports from the High Court’s Central Project Coordinator and the District Judge of Ghaziabad after learning that a Magistrate’s courtroom in Ghaziabad does not have video conferencing facilities. Additionally, the Court asked the District Judge of Ghaziabad to provide information on the number of courts with video conference facilities and how many of them have conducted virtual hearings in the past two months.
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The court stated,
“If courts fail to record evidence when prosecution witnesses are outside the district, the District Judge of Ghaziabad must clarify why judiciary officers in Ghaziabad are not adhering to the Video Conferencing Rules for UP Courts, 2020. Action may be taken for non-compliance with legal directives.”
The Court mentioned that the Video Conferencing Rules for Courts in Uttar Pradesh established in 2020, allowing ample time for infrastructure development.
The court emphasized,
“Courts must not delay in implementing video conferencing facilities.”
The court also commented that the video conferencing infrastructure, funded by public resources, must be optimally utilized. Additionally, it instructed the government counsel to obtain guidance from the State law secretary regarding the lack of video conferencing facilities for prosecution witnesses located outside the district where the case is being heard.
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It ordered,
“The Principal Secretary (Law), Uttar Pradesh shall also explain as to what steps have been taken by the Government in this respect so that movement of prosecution witnesses from one district to another, who are generally government officials is saved and valuable time of government officers are not spend in travelling to other district for appearance before the court,”
The Allahabad High Court emphasized the matter during a petition requesting the trial court to use video conferencing for taking evidence in a criminal case.
Upon learning that the Ghaziabad court lacked video conferencing facilities, the Court instructed the trial judge to make a decision regarding the application submitted by the prosecution witnesses to present evidence through online means.
The Court is scheduled to resume the hearing on April 9.
The petitioner represented by Advocate Vijit Saxena.
Advocate Ramesh Kumar Pandey represented one of the respondents.
Read Order: [Smt Anju Madhusoodanan Pillai vs State Of UP]