The Supreme Court in the case Sarvesh Mathur v. The Registrar General of Punjab and Haryana High Court observed and has asked the Registrar Generals of all High Courts and the Registrars of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal, NCLAT, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, NCDRC and the National Green Tribunal, NGT to state on affidavits if they allowed the virtual hearing to continue.
Adding to it, the court stated that if the hybrid hearing option has been discontinued.
The bench headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud in the case observed ad has passed the directions while hearing the plea moved which complained that the Punjab and Haryana High Court has completely stopped the virtual hearings.
Therefore, the petitioner, petitioner Sarvesh Mathur, who appeared before the court as a party-in-person, submitted that though the virtual hearing option was being available during the COVID pandemic period and now the same has been discontinued.
The bench comprising of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra in the case observed and has decided to issue the notice not only to the Registrar General of the Punjab and Haryana High Court but also to all the other High Courts. It has also been mentioned by other lawyers that the Tribunals are also not allowing virtual hearings. The bench in the case observed ad has decided to issue notice to NCLAT, NCDRC and NGT. Thus, it has also been decided by the bench to issue notice to NCLAT, NCDRC and NGT. Thus, another lawyer also requested the bench that notice should be issued to the Debts Recovery Tribunals too.
The bench headed by CJI DY Chandrachud also observed that issuing notice to all DRTs across the country might be time-consuming and has also stated that the bench will at first deal with the three tribunals on a representative basis. The bench while considering the facts and circumstances of the case observed and has directed the service of notice on the Union Ministries and requested the assistance of the Solicitor General of India regarding DRTs and other Tribunals under various Ministries.
The bench of CJI Chandrachud stated that he had written to all Chief Justices with regards to the status of hybrid hearings.