Steps Initiated To Provide Video Conferencing Facility For Quasi-Judicial Authorities: Karnataka Govt. Tells High Court

As per a memo filed by the Principal Secretary, Revenue Department, the State Government has initiated steps for providing video conference hearing facilities to quasi-judicial authorities in the State through the Centre for e-Governance.

The compliance report was filed, following a direction issued by the Court to the State government to ensure that the State Revenue Department submits a proposal to the Finance department under the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, for providing video conferencing facilities to quasi-judicial authorities in the state.

In its order dated June 24, the court while hearing a petition filed by M. Nagaraj had said,

"The first and second wave of Covid-19 resulted in complete shut down of the functioning of the quasi judicial authorities in the State. Now bearing in mind the principles laid down in the Disaster Management Act, 2005, all the public authorities must be in the state of preparedness, to meet the situation, which may be created by a possible third wave of Covid-19."

The state government had initially submitted that presently it was difficult to start the video conference facility in all the quasi-judicial authorities, due to financial constraints. To which the court had orally said "Silicon city of India is in Karnataka and you don't want to have video conferencing facilities for quasi-judicial authorities for regular hearing?"

It had added that:

"The quasi judicial authorities discharge the function which affects the common man, mutation entries and correcting the revenue record, if they can't function then…this will be part of preparedness for the third wave. If this system is made operational it will work for years."

The court has directed the state government to inform it about the steps taken further for providing videoconference hearing facilities to quasi-judicial authorities in the State by September 16.

The matter will be next heard on September 17.

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