Gujarat HC moots production of undertrial in Courts through video conferencing-issues directions [Read Order]

Gujarat High Court has directed the State to consider production of undertrial in concerned courts through video conferencing. Justice Sonia Gokani made this observation in a bail application preferred by one undertrial Ketan Patel.

Allowing the fifth bail application (four was rejected earlier) preferred by the accused in High Court, the court observed “when video conferencing facility is made available by the State between the Central Jails and the district Courts, their use may not be restricted to production of the accused alone for taking their presence but, instead of transporting the undertrial prisoners from jail to the concerned Court, for the purpose of trial, technological advances can be employed and a way could be found out by putting the maximum use of this video conferencing facility. For the consistent and regular use of this facility for the purpose of conducting trial, let some concerted effort be made out. Even otherwise research study indicates that the expense of production of the undertrial through video conferencing facility compared to the physical production is about 1% only.”

While considering his earlier bail application, the Court had directed the jail authority to provide on regular basis, facility for carrying the prisoner to the concerned trial Court, but he was not taken to the trial Court. The I.G. Prisons in his affidavit explained the reasons and has apologized for non-compliance of this order. It is in this context, the Court mooted for production of undertrial through video conferencing.

Read the order here.