Gujarat High Court Introduces Hybrid Hearing Of Cases On Pilot Basis Starting With Two Division Benches

The Gujarat High Court has introduced hybrid hearing of cases on a pilot basis. The new system of hybrid hearing has been introduced with a view to facilitate the arguing Counsels or Senior Counsels to appear through video conferencing.

As per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the high court, the hybrid mode of hearing can initially be opted for the matters listed on Thursdays before the Division Benches presided by the Acting Chief Justice A. J. Desai and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi.

Once Thursday’s causelist gets published, the Advocates who are registered with the High Court's Registry and represent either party in the listed matters, can intimate the Registry through the online module for submission of hybrid hearing option at the case status section of the High Court’s website about their option to appear through Video Conferencing along with the name of any other Advocate/Senior Advocate engaged by them, the Registrar General of the high court said in a circular.

The option for hybrid hearing can only be submitted after the publication of the Causelist for Thursdays and must be completed by 10.00 am on the respective Thursday, the circular adds. Once the hybrid hearing option is submitted, the registered advocate will receive a meeting link (URL) through their registered email address and mobile number.

The circular clearly states that the advocate should not forward the link to any other individual, as only the advocate and the concerned advocate/senior advocate whose details are submitted along with the online hybrid hearing option would be allowed to join the video conference hearing.

The circular also mentions that Gujarat High Court (Live Streaming of Court Proceedings) Rules, 2021 will also be applicable to the hybrid hearing with necessary modifications to accommodate the new system. It further mentions that following a successful pilot implementation of hybrid hearing, the facility would be gradually extended for other benches of the high court. 

Click Here To Read/Download Circular