Hearing "So Many" Counsel By Video Conferencing Not Feasible, Says Raj HC; Adjourns Bail Applications: [Read Order]

Remarking that "hearing of so many counsel simultaneously even by video-conferencing is not feasible", the Rajasthan High Court on Thursday adjourned five bail applications, arising out of a common FIR.

The Single Judge of the Principal Seat at Jodhpur noted that "These bail applications arise out of common FIR and all the petitioners are being represented by three different counsel".

The Court proceeded to state that since "All the bail applications are connected", they "are required to be heard together". "In the present scenario, when the lawyers are not appearing in wake of complete lockdown", the Single bench deemed as "not feasible" the "hearing of so many counsel simultaneously, even by video- conferencing", requiring them to be listed after 2 weeks.

Only yesterday, Justice D. Y. Chandrachud, the head of the Supreme Court E-Committee remarked that the Video Conferencing Hearings are going well. Last week, the Apex Court had directed the High Courts and the subordinate courts to ensure the robust functioning of the judicial system through the use of video conferencing technologies; that video conferencing shall be mainly employed for hearing arguments whether at the trial stage or at the appellate stage, and where the number of litigants are many the presiding officer of the court shall have the power to restrict the numbers.

The Madras High Court also recently cited a brief note expressing affirmation and benefits of conducting court hearings via video conferencing- "there are advantages in hearing cases through Whatsapp Video Call, and the fact remains that, it is less time-consuming, and it will be helpful to analyze the exact scenario of each case, so as to arrive at a definite conclusion, as was done in the case on hand."

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