Virtual Hearing Problems Due To Lawyers Appearing Through Mobile Phones : CJI Expresses Unhappiness

The Chief Justice of India on Monday expressed unhappiness regarding lawyers attending virtual hearing through their mobile phones, making it difficult for the Bench to hear or see them during the hearing.

"These counsels appear through their mobile phones and they're not visible. I think we have to ban this mobile business", CJI NV Ramana remarked

"What is the problem? You are now practising in Supreme Court, everyday you appear. You can't afford to have a desktop at least?", CJI asked a lawyer.

When the problem continued in a second matter, the CJI Ramana told the counsel, "The problem is, you are a regular practicing advocate, you can use your computer, you are using your mobile".

Addressing the Counsel appearing in the matter, Justice Hima Kohli said, "You should have a device, don't you have any device? Some IPad, desktop or laptop?"

When the problem persisted in yet another matter, CJI Ramana remarked, "This has been happening since morning itself, we are exhausted in 10 cases. Please understand, lawyers practicing in Supreme Court, High Court, what's the problem? Why can't you use an IPad, laptop, desktop or something? I can understand lower courts lawyers using this mobile phone".

Before rising from the bench, CJI told the Court Staff, "You please ask counsels to use desktops or laptops, and not mobile phones. We are facing a lot of problems. Don't disconnect but tell them there's a problem in hearing through mobile phones".

In the wake of rising number of cases of omicron variant of Covid 19, the Supreme Court has reverted to virtual mode of hearing. The Court decided to conduct all hearings through virtual mode for two weeks with effect from 3rd January 2021 

The Bench further decided to hear all the matters in virtual mode with effect from 7th January with the Benches sitting at the Residential Offices, and take up only urgent matters from 10th January.