Following a reprimand from the Supreme Court regarding the dismantling of video conferencing infrastructure, the Bombay High Court has announced that it will resume virtual and hybrid hearings starting from Tuesday.
The Bombay High Court had initially transitioned to conducting hearings online through video conferencing during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, physical hearings were reinstated as COVID-19 cases significantly decreased, and lockdown measures were lifted.
On October 6, the Supreme Court made a clear directive that no high court in the country should deny lawyers and litigants access to video conferencing or hybrid mode hearings within two weeks. Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, leading an apex court bench, emphasized that technology is no longer optional for judges.
On Monday, the Bombay High Court issued a notice stating that starting from Tuesday, all of its benches can be accessed virtually by stakeholders involved in cases scheduled for court proceedings. This access allows them to attend or participate in hearings through the hybrid video conferencing facility.