Cases Won't Be Dismissed For Default If Lawyer Hasn't Joined VC At Relevant Time, Justice Chandrachud Assures

Justice DY Chandrachud on Monday urged all advocates, should they feel the need, to undergo the training programme being conducted by the E-Committee of the Supreme Court to acquaint themselves with the use of technology.

"We have already trained over 1.5 lakh lawyers across the country. In this behalf, a senior judicial officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre, R. Arulmozhiselvi, is associated with us. Please contact my court master to get in touch with her. This training is offered online, so you may be anywhere in the country and still benefit from it. And we are doing it absolutely as a matter of public service, there are no charges. We would like all members of the bar to be aware of our training programme", said Justice Chandrachud, Chairman of the E-Committee.

The remark came when advocate V. K. Biju, appearing in a matter before the bench of Justice Chandrachud and MR Shah, submitted that he is not very friendly with the use of technology.

"Now don't say that, Mr Biju. Sit during the holidays and learn. The more you practice, the easier it will be. This is the time to learn. Please get in touch with my court master to participate in the training programme", said Justice Chandrachud to him.

Mr. Biju also voiced his grievance regarding the control room unmuting the lawyers only on their matter reaching, at the last instant, and not even shortly in advance- "I am a heart patient. I tend to get anxious"

"We want all the members of the bar to know that they need not carry any stress. There is no dismissal in default if you are not joined in for any reason. If you are not there, we just roll over the matter to be taken up later", assured Justice Chandrachud.

The Supreme Court e-Committee, under the Guidance of Justice Chandrachud conducted 19 online E-Committee Training (ECT)/awareness programme during the pandemic period from May 2020 to December 2020 (covering 167735 participants).

A press release to this effect has been issued by the Supreme Court e-Committee, which further states that the participants of the programme included Advocates, High Court Judges, Judges of District Judiciary, Court Staff, Master Trainers among Judges/DSAs, Technical Staff of High Court.