'Have Requested All HC Chief Justices To Allow Virtual Hearings; Issuing Judicial Directions Inappropriate': CJI Surya Kant

The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed reluctance to entertain a petition seeking directions to allow virtual hearings in all Delhi Courts as a measure to cut fuel consumption.

When a counsel orally mentioned the petition for urgent listing, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant expressed that it was not a matter to be taken up on the judicial side. The CJI also revealed that he has already requested the High Court Chief Justices to allow virtual hearings.

"It may not be appropriate issue directions on judicial side. I have already requested the Chief Justices. Most have already implemented. It has to be voluntary exercise by both the Bar and the Bench."

When the counsel submitted that the she was seeking virtual hearings before all district Courts in Delhi in the "national interest", the CJI noted that District Courts are under the administrative control of High Courts and it would be appropriate for the High Courts to take a call on that matter. "District Courts are the domain of High Courts...HCs are the administrative...let them take a call...vide a letter, I have requested them for District Courts also", the CJI expressed.

It may be recalled that the Supreme Court recently introduced a series of immediate administrative measures, including mandatory virtual hearings for certain categories of cases, in line with the Union government's fuel conservation measures. The directive applied to miscellaneous working days (Mondays and Fridays) as well as the Court's partial working days.

Later, following representations from Bar members, the Court issued a clarification that while advocates were encouraged to appear virtually, those who cannot appear in such manner due to unavoidable reasons may appear physically.

The Government has adopted fuel conservation methods in view of the West Asia crisis following the US-Iran conflict.