Delhi High Court dismisses PIL to adopt virtual hearings as norm

The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking the adoption of virtual hearings as a norm in courts across the capital [Mujeeb Ur Rehman v. Registrar General, High Court of Delhi]..A Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Neena Bansal Krishna informed the petitioner that the issue is being looked at on the administrative side."... we see no reason to entertain the petition mainly for the reason because the High Court is already working on the issue, and the decision is taken by the High Court on administrative side after deliberations with the committees whose members include sitting judges of the Court. The issue involved is being looked into. Also, looking at the prevailing condition of the pandemic, the orders are being modified on the administrative side. Hence we see no reason to entertain the petition at this stage," the Bench stated in its order. .The petitioner, Advocate Mujeeb Ur Rehman, appeared in person and argued that switching to virtual hearings permanently can better optimise the time of judiciary, and save time as well as the environment..The Supreme Court in October last year had dismissed a plea to declare virtual hearings as a fundamental right, saying that allowing such a plea could prove to be the "death knell" for physical courts.A Bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao and BR Gavai had observed that employing hybrid method of hearing cases, which gives lawyers the option to appear virtually or physically, has led to lawyers preferring the former.This was the second such plea filed on the same issue.On September 6, the top court had issued notice to the Central government, four High Courts, the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) on a plea challenging the decision of the Uttarakhand High Court to revert to full physical functioning from August 24 to the exclusion of virtual mode of hearing cases.That petition also sought a declaration that the right to participate in court proceedings through virtual courts is a fundamental right under Articles 19(1)(a) and (g) of the Constitution.