Jitsi Platform Not Convenient For Lawyers, Litigants; Need To Switch To Webex Cisco/Zoom: MP State Bar Council Chairman Writes To Justice Chandrachud

The letter seeks urgent indulgence of the E-Committee of the Supreme Court for strengthening and promoting the virtual system of the hearings of the cases in Madhya Pradesh High Court

The letter submits that the Madhya Pradesh High Court has been carrying out its virtual hearings on the 'Jitsi platform', which is neither user-friendly nor convenient for both lawyers as well as litigants.

The letter further argues:

"In the case of virtual Courts, the software and the applications that are being employed for convening virtual Courts must be completely user friendly, which meets all the desired expectations which make such virtual Courts efficient, non-interruptive and hassle-free."

Further averring that serious problems are being faced with respect to 'Jisti app' by the lawyers appearing before the High Courts in all the three Benches of the states, viz Jabalpur (Principal Seat), Indore and Gwalior, the letter states:

"Taking the current example of ongoing COVID-19 proceedings, where 25 to 30 Lawyers are appearing in batch matters on behalf of various parties/ litigants, the Court for the majority of the time are not able to comprehend submissions of the counsels, nor the lawyers appearing on the screen were able to fathom the oral observations of the Court."

The letter adds that there are Problems of echoing of sounds, video being hanged repeatedly and constant humming in the background when the proceedings are going on.

The letter further argues that it is necessary that the virtual hearing system, which is the only system of providing justice to the society by the Courts, must be efficient, accessible and must be open for viewership for each and every litigant who is part of the judicial process.

Importantly, the letter avers:

"Not only the litigant concerned must have a right to attend his case, but also the cases which he wants to attend any other one listed before any other Court. This will ensure accountability on the part of the Advocate concerned, as would also boost the confidence of a common citizen in the justice dispensation process by the High Court."

Therefore, the letter submits that There is absolutely no impediment for the Madhya Pradesh High Court to switch to Webex Cisco or Zoom platforms.