Gujarat High Court Modifies Online Mentioning Portal And Allows Parties-in-Person To Submit Request For Online Mentioning [Read Circular]

The Circular issued by the Gujarat High Court states,

"With regard to the subject given above, this is to inform all concerned that, Honourable the Chief Justice has been pleased to direct that, on the lines of the online mentioning platform being used by the Ld. Advocates, Parties-in-Person should also be allowed access to the mentioning platform, to submit requests for online mentioning."

The Circular further states,

"Accordingly, the requisite modifications in the online mentioning platform have been done so that a Party-in-Person, whose mobile number is registered, may can also submit a request for online mentioning using their Party-In-Person Code number and the OTP that would be sent on the registered mobile number."

Notably, the Mentioning link is available on the Case Status page of High Court website on http://gujarathc-casestatus.nic.in/gujarathc/.

It may be noted that the Gujarat High Court, in a circular issued on 04^th June 2020, had informed that an online mechanism for mentioning for matters would be made available from 08^th June, 2020.

Accordingly, User Guide - Online Mentioning Platform was issued by the Gujarat High Court on 07^th June, 2020.

Further, on 29^th July, 2020, new and additional facilities were added in online mentioning platform. This was done in view of the increase in the number of matters which were being received for mentioning through the Online Mentioning Platform.

It was stated that the additional features would bring about convenience for the Honourable Judges as well as the advocates, who could refer to their serial number before the Honourable Judge, on joining the Video Conferencing for mentioning of the matter.

The new features were implemented in the Online Mentioning Platform from. 30/07/2020.

Significantly, "with a view to effectuating and broadening the implementation of Open Court concept even during the virtual hearings of the Court," High Court recently commenced live streaming of Court proceedings on YouTube (from October 26, 2020).

Further, the Gujarat High Court on 02^nd October launched eWrit Module to send digitally signed copies of Bail Orders from High Court to District Courts.

On recommendation of the Judges of the ICT & e-Governance Committee of the High Court, a new module to make available digitally signed Bail Orders of the High Court to the concerned District Courts across the State was launched on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti, by the Chief Justice Vikram Nath.

Also, the Gujarat High Court recently decided to start the publication of select High Court Orders/Judgements in the Gujarati Language on High Court's website. On 2^nd October, the Gujarat High Court issued a Press Release to this effect.