Delhi HC directs Delhi Govt to indicate the time required to upgrade existing internet connection at District Courts and digitizing records

The Delhi High Court has asked the Delhi Government to file an affidavit indicating the time required for upgrading the present internet connection in District Courts and digitizing the court records. (Anand Vaid vs Preety Vaid vs Ors).The order was passed by a Division Bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Subramonium Prasad in a petition seeking directions to Family Courts to allow recording of evidence via video conferencing during COVID-19 pandemic..Delhi HC issues notice in petition to allow Family Courts to record evidence via video conferencing.In response to the petition, the High Court Officials submitted that the matters were already being conducted in District Courts via video conferencing, although within the constraints of limited bandwidth provided. .At present, the existing lease lines are of 34 MBPS in each District Court Complex, except for Rouse Avenue, the Court was informed..It was pointed out that in spite of repeated letters addressed by the District and Session Judge (Headquarters), Tis Hazari and Registrar General of the High Court to Delhi Government for grant of administrative approval and sanction of expenditure for enhancement and upgradation of the lease lines to 1 GBPS, no steps were taken..The most recent reminder was that of May 18 in view of the lockdown, it was stated. .The Court was further informed that as long back as in November 2018, a request was also made to the Delhi Government to sanction digitization of District Court records, but to no avail..In view of the above, the Court ordered .the GNCTD to file an affidavit (at the earliest) indicating inter alia the time required for making the necessary provision for upgradation and enhancement of the existing lease lines and for digitization of the court records. The reason for failing to take actions for the past two and a half years on such a critical aspect shall also be explained.Delhi High Court.Meanwhile, the Court granted leave to the Petitioner to file an appropriate application before the Family Court for recording of evidence..The matter would be heard next on June 16..Additional Standing Counsel Anupam Srivastava appeared for Delhi Government..Advocates Ankur Mahindro, Ankush Satija, Sanjoli Mehrotra appeared for the Petitioner.Advocate Rohit Kumar Modi appeared for the Petitioner's wife, the Respondent..Read the Order: