Justice Gita Mittal Holds Court Hearing Via Video Conferencing Despite Medical Difficulties

Chief Justice of J&K High Court, Justice Gita Mittal has been holding court via teleconferencing since 10th of May 2019, despite medical difficulties.

Justice Mittal suffered a fracture leg and has been advised abstention from judicial work or any kind of exerting physical work including holding court proceedings. However, she has been holding court via teleconference from her official residence. "

"There is so much pendency of cases and the common people cannot be allowed to suffer", she said while holding the court. The Chief Justice had initially decided to hold court in routine manner, however, had developed some medical complications.

J&K High Court has been utilizing teleconferencing effectively to hear matters pertaining to Jammu wing of the High Court from Srinagar and vice versa, without the party or the advocates being physically present in the other wing of the court. The jails in J&K have also been linked to the courts for facilitating convenient court proceedings. The division bench headed by Justice Mittal while hearing a case pertaining to the alleged denial of medical treatment to one prisoner had directed Registrar Judicial, Jammu to facilitate his presence from the jail via video conferencing.

Previously the division bench of the J&K High Court at Srinagar headed by Chief Justice Mittal had taken suo moto cognizance of a criminal case relating to Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and had issued notice to numerous newspapers for revealing the identity of the minor victim. The proceedings take place in the Chief Justice's court room, without the physical presence of the presiding judges.