Covid-19 scare: SC uses video conferencing for the first time ever, takes up very urgent matters

In the wake of the spread of the novel coronavirus and the lockdown imposed to contain its spread, the Supreme Court is taking very urgent matters for hearing remotely, reports legal news website barandbench.com.

Carrying out the proceedings via video conferencing, the judges of the apex court scheduled to take up matters for hearings are assembling at the residence or chambers of one of the judges on the Bench and the lawyers arguing in the listed matter are required to join the video conference from their homes or offices.

Senior Counsel KV Vishwanathan, who was one of the counsel to appear before the court through video conferencing told Bar & Bench that the hearing went on smoothly without any glitches.

All the counsel were connected via the ‘Vidyo’ link provided to them by the court and while the lawyers all joined from their respective offices, the two judges were together and joined the video conferencing hearing from the residence or office of one of the Judges on the Bench.

Vishwanathan says that the hearing went on as though it was in the courtroom and added that a video conference hearing can, in fact, be "much more relaxing."

In deciding the modalities for facilitating the video conferencing, the platform finalised by the court on March 23 for conducting these proceedings is called Vidyo. However, the court has also kept the alternative options of apps and platforms such as WhatsApp, facetime, and Skype open as well in case of network linkage issues.

This is the first time hearings in the Supreme Court are being conducted via video conferencing and the move came in the aftermath of Covid-19 pandemic in order to ensure that the court premises remained shut and hearings could be conducted remotely.

Owing to the extraordinary circumstances and the nascent stage of use of video conferencing for hearings, the Supreme Court will be taking up only matters of extreme urgency for hearing.