"Green Bench" : Supreme Court Constitution Bench Asks Lawyers To Not Bring Paper Files, Offers Technical Training

The Supreme Court Constitution Bench led by Justice DY Chandrachud on Wednesday said that it will be a "green bench" and asked lawyers to not to bring any papers or physical documents.

Justice Chandrachud also said that the officials of the Supreme Court registry and IT cell can offer training for lawyers on a Saturday for using technology to present arguments.

A 5-judge bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud, MR Shah, Krishna Murari, Hima Kohli and PS Narasimha was hearing the issue related to dispute between Delhi Government and the Union Government over control of administrative services in the national capital.

"We will keep this a completely green bench so there would be no papers. Please don't carry papers", Justice Chandrachud said.

"The Secretary General and the IT Cell head are masters of technology, they said that they are willing to train the seniors on how to use technology on Saturdays", Justice Chandrachud added.

When a counsel expressed his difficulty in using technology, Justice MR Shah assured him : " We also got training, some day you have to start".

"If you can argue in court, you can easily adapt to this. Technology is for dummies", Justice Chandrachud added in a lighter vein.

The bench fixed October 11 as the tentative date to start the hearing in the Delhi-LG matter. "Proceedings should be conducted in a paperless environment", the bench noted in the order. The Registry was directed to scan paperbooks and make them available to the bench and the parties. 

The Bench also stated that in order to make Counsels acquainted with technological application in the legal proceedings, training would be conducted over the weekend.

Apart from the Delhi-LG matter, this Constitution Bench is hearing the cases related to Shiv Sena dispute, validity of Section 6 A of the Citizenship Act and the validity of Extending the benefit of Reservation and Nomination in Legislative Assembly under Article 334 beyond the original period of operation, i.e. 10 years.