[BREAKING] Refuse to be a part of circus: Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya says he will not hold court till virtual hearing glitches are resolved

In what could perhaps be the first such instance, a High Court judge has refused to hold court citing technical glitches in video conference hearings and said that unless connectivity issue are resolved completely, he will not be part of such hearings (Jadav Saredar v. Basudeb Tarafder)..Justice Sabyasachi Bhattacharyya of Calcutta High Court said that due to major disruptions in virtual services, he is being forced to play dumb charades during virtual hearings with the advocates.The hearings, he lamented, have become a joke by now and does not tantamount to adjudication of matters but is a mere circus on show before the public."Hence, this Court is unable to sit any longer till the connectivity issues are resolved entirely. I categorically refuse to be a part of such circus because I have taken oath to deliver justice to the litigants, who are outside the Court rooms and beyond the reaches of the air-conditioned rooms accommodating the Judges and toiling in the sun and the dust outside," the judge noted in his order passed on Friday. .The Court said that connectivity issues and electronic interference in the audio and visual systems, have become a daily feature of Calcutta High Court. "Despite the tall talks about achievements of virtual hearing facilities and restricting hearing of litigations entirely to virtual hearings, it is unfortunate that this Court is unable to provide the minimum virtual services and connectivity in order to ensure that justice is rendered appropriately," the judge noted. The judge said that he personally feels guilty since disruption and interference in functioning of Courts, in whatever form, might amount to criminal contempt."It may be recorded here that this has become a regular feature and I feel ashamed that our esteemed Chartered High Court, which has an illustrious history, is being relegated to such insignificance that we cannot render justice to the litigants at large due to mere connectivity issues," the order further said. .The judge also said that he had called the Central Project Coordinator repeatedly pointing out the issues and even called for a show-cause in connection with a different matter though there has been no response.The Court, therefore, proceeded to issue notice on why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against the High Court Administration, including the Registrar General and the Central Project Coordinator for criminal contempt of Court due to continuous interference in virtual hearings.Reply to the same has to be filed today. "Till such time that the issues are resolved in full, I shall not sit in Court to conduct an empty stage show," the judge reiterated. .[Read Order]