Pursuant to the Supreme Court's notification dated January 17, 2022 wherein Top Court had notified "best practices for virtual court proceedings", Supreme Court Advocates On Record Association ("SCORA") has made a representation to CJI to ask the Registry to not insist on a particular kind of equipment or connectivity to join court hearings through VC.
Dr Joseph Aristotle S, Secretary SCORA in the representation dated January 18, 2022 has said that before issuance of such notifications SCORA has never been consulted.
It has been stated that SCORA has received multiple requests from the members stating that the present pandemic has severally affected majority of the lawyers financially and many lawyers have also lost their regular practice and have been compelled to move back to their hometowns to avoid expenses (rents of their office and residence).
The representation also states that many lawyers who had travelled during the winter vacation to their hometowns have still not returned due to the sudden upsurge in the Covid-19 cases.
It has further been stated that most of the members including the junior members of the bar appear through mobile phones due to its availability and also as the connectivity is not dependent on any other factors like, WiFi, power backup etc. In fact, for some lawyers, mobile is used as a last resort whereas for some it is the only resource. Advocates who join via a desktop/laptop, with wired connectivity also use mobiles to join the VC hearings when multiple cases are listed on the same day, power cuts, etc, representation also states.
The representation also states that there are instances of glitches in the connectivity at the end of the Court during the VC hearings that may require consideration.
"In the aforesaid circumstances, we request your esteemed good self that even in the toughest times of pandemic, every advocate endeavors to join the VC hearing with the best connectivity and the best equipment including mobile phones and hence the registry may not insist on a particular kind of equipment or connectivity to join the court hearings through VC. The Bar and Bench being two wheels of justice have always come together to ensure uninterrupted access to justice for all," representation also states.
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