Kerala High Court Issues Standard Operating Procedure For Attending Proceedings Through Video Conferencing

Restrictions:

Advocates can appear online through VC without restrictions. But the High Court can restrict the participation of the litigant or any other person as per its Rules or Practice Directions.

Participants should avoid logging in from multiple devices at a single point in time to avoid echo or other voice disturbances. Advocates or parties should keep their microphones muted when joining the court proceedings and they should only unmute them when their item number is called out. Also, the mobile phones of all participants should be switched off or kept in flight mode during the court proceedings. Advocates or parties should not log in VC links from vehicles like a car. They should only log in from a quiet location with sufficient internet coverage.

All participants should keep their cameras switched on during the court proceedings in virtual mode and remain attentive and should not engage in any other work during the proceedings.

Only Advocates or duly authorized persons are entitled to address the court and the court officer can mute or unmute any other participant.

The Court proceedings accessed through VC links are judicial proceedings and all protocols applicable in physical courts are also applicable to virtual proceedings. If any participant indulges in inappropriate activities during virtual proceedings, the Court can take action against them.

Recording of Court proceedings is not allowed. If in-camera proceedings are held, virtual hearings would be restricted.

Dress Code:

Advocates appearing online should wear attire prescribed by BCI under the Advocates Act. Police Officers or other uniformed officers shall wear uniforms as prescribed under relevant statutes or orders. Other persons shall wear sober attire consistent with the dignity of the court proceedings.

Click here to Read/Download the Order