CJI DY Chandrachud pulls up Bombay High Court judges for not allowing VC hearings, says they have to adapt to technology

Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Friday expressed strong disapproval over judges at the Bombay High Court doing away with video conference (virtual) hearings or hybrid mode hearings [Sarvesh Mathur vs Registrar General High Court of Punjab and Haryana]. .He observed that apart from Justice Gautam Patel of the Bombay High Court, few other High Court judges appeared to be using technology."Why is it so retrograde on technology? ... apart from Justice Patel no one else is using it," the CJI said.He did not hide his distress over the same, something accentuated by the fact that Bombay High Court is his parent High Court."Now in Bombay (High Court), you have disbanded the infrastructure and the infrastructure has been disbanded. This is my parent High Court and I am distressed to say that hybrid is done away with ... How many screens have been removed? How many courtrooms have hybrid hearings apart from Justice Gautam Patel?" the CJI remarked.The CJI was part of the bench hearing a petition before the Supreme Court raising concern over virtual hearings being reduced at various judicial fora, including High Courts, company law tribunals and the National Green Tribunals. .The CJI further said that every judge in India has to keep up with technology. "The question is not whether a judge is tech-friendly or not. If you have to be a judge you have to be tech-friendly. If you want to be a judge in this country, you must know technology and every judge needs to be trained. Even Supreme Court judges have been trained in training centres. Justice (Ravindra) Bhat has handled those teams," CJI Chandrachud said. When the Supreme Court has adapted to using technology, why are High Courts so reticent on this matter, he further asked. .Addressing Maharashtra's Advocate General Dr. Birendra Saraf, the CJI expressed concern that there were lawyers who informed that technology has been disbanded at the Bombay High Court. AG Saraf responded by informing that judges allow virtual hearings as and when requests are made. The CJI, however, remained concerned over the issue. "Why are other judges not adopting technology? What is the aversion? In a city like Mumbai, travel is so difficult ... I, as a lawyer (would have to run) from High Court to the city civil court," the CJI pointed out.The AG responded by assuring the Supreme Court judges that he would take up the matter with the High Court Chief Justice today. "I will inform the Chief Justice today itself," AG Saraf said."Technology is no longer a matter of choice and it is as needed as law books. Without technology, how will the courts function?" CJI Chandrachud added. .The Court's concern over the poor implementation of hybrid hearings in High Courts including the Bombay High Court was also reflected in the order passed today, which stated:"It is apparent that there is a considerable variation in High Courts' in adoption of technology. Some High Courts have hybrid hearings or through video conferencing. Other High Courts have said facilities are available. But when the statistics with regard to the actual number of hearings through hybrid mode are seen, the performance is abysmal." .During the hearing, the CJI also remarked that the Bombay High Court has to keep up with the march of technology, more so since it was a premier financial center. "Bombay is the premier financial center and it has to be consistent with the march of technology ... You cannot say you will keep working like you did before 150 years. A young lawyer wrote to me that a judge's usher told her not to use an iPad in the courtroom ... Lawyers cannot be told to shut down their devices ... they have to access legal websites, etc. ... Lawyers have to be encouraged to use it and that is why internet is available across the Supreme Court now," he said. .[Read live coverage of the hearing]