Introduce Live Streaming Even For Video Conferencing; Resume Open Court Hearings After Lockdown : SC Bar Association Resolution

Stating that 'video conferencing' should not be the new normal and should not replace 'open court hearings' after the lifting of lockdown, the Supreme Court Bar Association passed a resolution on Friday.

The SCBA urged that video conferencing should be limited to the time period of the present crisis.

The SCBA further urged that the live-streaming of the court proceedings should be introduced even while hearings are done via video conferencing.

Referring to the decisions in Naresh Shridhar Mirajkar vs State of Maharashtra and Swapnil Tripathi vs Union of India, the SCBA asserted that open court hearings is the norm.

"In view of the settled law, the Supreme Court Bar Association resolves that once the current lockdown is lifted, and the health situation permits it, open court hearings should be resorted at the earliest. The Supreme Court proceedings being conducted by video conferencing must be limited to the time period of the present crisis, and video conferencing should not become the "New Normal" and should not replaces "Open Court Hearings""

The lawyers' body further stated that live streaming should be implemented even for VC hearings.

"The Supreme Court Bar Association further resolves that even while video conferencing remains in use during the present crisis and lockdown, live streaming of Supreme Court hearings ought to be introduced so that video conferenced hearings are conducted, as far as possible, in the spirit of Mirajkar and Tripathi".

It was further stated that live streaming as well as daily transcription of court proceedings be continued along with open court hearings after the lockdown.

Earlier, the SCBA had urged the SC to cancel summer vacations to make up for the normal working days lost due to lockdown.

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