S.Basavaraj, Advocate, Daksha Legal.
Karnataka High Court has disposed more than 15,000 cases during Covid-19 period via Video Conferencing. Though physical appearance is allowed in few court halls, majority of the cases have been heard via video conferencing.
Covid related lock-down was imposed on 26 March 2020. Immediately thereafter, the Hon’ble Chief justice bench started hearing matters including PILs seeking directions to Government to effectively fight the situation. The Benches hearing matters view video link were increased gradually and as of now even the old matters like Regular First Appeals are being heard and disposed by the Hon’ble Judges.
Perhaps the biggest ever hearing on video conferencing was Securities Exchange Board of India vs Franklin Templeton Trustees Services Pvt Ltd & others decided on 24 October 2020. The batch of Writ Appeal/Petitions were heard where nine Senior Advocates including Solicitor General of India and Additional Solicitor General of India and more than 25 instructing counsel participated– all logged in from different parts of the country and one from abroad. 5000 pages of documentation and marathon hearing for 25 working days including two Court holidays, totally 61 hours of hearing made this case unique.
The website shows that on 24 November, the Principal bench at Bangalore there are 67 video conferences with several judges combination hearing almost all types of cases. In Dharward and Kalburgi benches, totally 13 Hon’ble Judges are hearing the matters via video conference.
As on today, the total strength of the Judges is 46. Though the pendency has increased considerably for want of judges earlier, the disposal of cases is likely to reach its optimum level from next year.
S.Basavaraj, Advocate, Daksha Legal. Member, Karnataka State Bar Council
Daksha Legal 