Why Video Conferencing Facilities Not Used To Produce Accused? Supreme Court Asks Maharashtra Home Secretary To File Affidavit

The Supreme Court has asked the State of Maharashtra to explain why Video Conferencing facilities are not being used to produce the accused in Court for trial proceedings.

The Court has sought an affidavit from the Secretary of the Home Department of the Maharashtra Government. A bench comprising Justices Rajesh Bindal and R Mahadevan passed this order while noting that the trial in a case was adjourned on 30 occasions as the accused was not produced.

The bench ordered : 

"Let the Secretary Home, State of Maharashtra file an affidavit as to why Video Conferencing facilities are not being used for production of accused in Court for the purpose of recording of evidence or otherwise? He/she shall also state in the affidavit as to whether such facilities are in place in the State of Maharashtra or not? It shall also be pointed out in the affidavit as to how much of amount was released for installation of Video Conferencing in the Courts and the Jails and what is the present ground situation."

The Court also directed the Registrar General of the Bombay High Court to file an affidavit with reference to the above facts.

Case : AFTAB ANWAR SHAIKH v. THE STATE OF MAHARASHTRA SLP (CrlP No. 8212/2024)

Click here to read the order