In Addition To Physical Hearings, Bombay HC To Hear More Cases Virtually With Effect From December 14

The bench headed by Chief Justice Dipankar Datta will also be hearing cases on December 16 and January 6 through video conferencing along with a total of nine other division benches and fifteen other single benches. (these benches will be hearing cases on different dates)

On Thursday, the division bench of Justice SS Shinde and Justice MS Karnik was hearing a petition filed by Arnab Goswami in the Anvay Naik case and Senior Advocate Aabad Ponda, appearing for Arnab sought leave to amend his petition and submitted that Senior Advocate Harish Salve wishes to argue the case, hence he requested for a virtual hearing in the matter.

Justice Shinde observed-

"The reason why the High Court administration started virtual hearing again is because, even in my view, after the lockdown advocates from all over the country have been arguing cases. Moreover, the times have changed and many High Courts have gone paperless. So let us see, what other advocates have to say"

At which point, Senior Advocate Amit Desai, who is appearing on behalf of the State Government pointed out how most hearings in Delhi High Court are still via video conferencing. Personally, I prefer not to venture out, Desai added. Later, the bench allowed the matter to be listed for a virtual hearing on December 16.

The High Court's decision came after several advocates and the Bombay Bar Association had written to the Chief Justice on November 29 requesting him to modify the order dated November 27. In the said representation, BBA stated that it received feedback and responses from a large number of its member advocates "expressing grave concern on the making of physical appearances mandatory in so many Courts in the given circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic."

"The Standing Committee of BBA feels that in the current situation of COVID-19, the opening of physical Courts should be done gradually and in a phase-wise manner - initially in a hybrid form, giving an option of appearing through the virtual platform if members are unable to appear physically."