'Judicial Remedies Denied': Calcutta High Court Orders Admin To Immediately Upgrade Existing VC Facilities In Courts

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the High Court administration to immediately undertake measures to augment existing video conferencing facilities in all Court rooms of the High Court as well as the Court room of the 15th Additional District Judge in the Alipore (South 24 Parganas). The Court was adjudicating upon a plea seeking relief on the ground that the petitioner had been denied judicial remedies due to the absence of efficient video conferencing facilities at the Court room of the 15th Additional District Judge at Alipore.

Justice Rajasekhar Mantha observed,

"The High Court Administration and/or their representatives shall immediately hold a meeting with the learned Advocate General and the officials of the Judicial Department of the State Government. Modalities should be worked out to install appropriate video conferencing facilities and/or to upgrade and augment existing facilities at the Court room of the 15th Additional District Judge in the Alipore (South 24 Parganas) and in all Court rooms at the Calcutta High Court"

The Court also directed the State as well as the High Court administration to engage service providers including private players for availing the 'best quality of uninterrupted, unbuffered and smooth video conference facilities' and for setting up all necessary equipment and infrastructure as required.

It was also made clear that the High Court administration must not be compelled to only approach State service providers for implementing the aforementioned video conferencing facilities. The Court further ordered that funds for establishing such facilities must be immediately disbursed to the Principal Secretary, Department of the Finance of the West Bengal Government.

In the meantime, the petitioner was directed to approach the 15th Additional District Judge, Alipore to conduct the hearing of his case via whatsapp or any other mobile communication facilities. 

In related news, Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya vide order dated July 16 had chided the High Court administration for the unfortunate state of video conference facilities in the High Court and had accordingly issued a show cause notice to the relevant authorities. 

The matter has been listed for further hearing on August 13 for ensuring compliance.

Case Title: Arnab Saha v. Shri Siddhartha Roy Chowdhury & Ors

Click Here To Read/Download Order