A parliamentary committee highlighted that out of the 25 high courts, only two have implemented mobile video conferencing, primarily benefiting litigants in remote areas. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Personnel emphasized the need for the swift extension of this facility to all remaining states. In a prior report, the committee had urged the judiciary to explore innovative solutions, including the adoption of mobile video conferencing, for the convenience of advocates and residents in remote regions.
The Union Law Ministry’s Department of Justice, in response, informed the committee that discussions on mobile video conferencing had been initiated with all high courts, suggesting that the Telangana High Court’s implementation be considered as a model case. As per the department’s information, Telangana and Himachal Pradesh have already executed the recommendation, while progress is underway in the Calcutta, Gauhati, Manipur, Rajasthan, and Sikkim high courts.
However, the proposal is still under consideration in high courts such as Allahabad, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Orissa. The committee expressed concern that only two states have implemented the recommendation so far, with the rest either in progress or under consideration. Therefore, the committee strongly recommended expediting the implementation of mobile video conferencing facilities in all other high courts to ensure prompt and accessible justice for litigants in remote and interior areas, as outlined in its 134th report on the functioning of virtual courts and video conferencing proceedings.
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