The Gujarat High Court has recently introduced a pilot program to introduce hybrid hearings for cases.
This innovative model combines both virtual and physical proceedings, granting litigants and lawyers the option to participate in court proceedings through online video conferences or by physically attending the courtroom.
Initially, the hybrid mode of hearing will be available for cases listed on Thursdays before the Division Benches headed by Acting Chief Justice AJ Desai and Justice Vipul M Pancholi. Once the cause list for the Thursday benches is released, registered advocates representing the involved parties can inform the registry of their preference to appear via video conference. They must also provide information about any other advocates or senior advocates joining them during the virtual proceedings.
Advocates can indicate their preference for online hybrid hearings by selecting the appropriate option on the case status page of the Gujarat High Court website. This must be done no later than 10 am on Thursday when the case is scheduled.
The circular issued by the High Court specifies that the Gujarat High Court (Live Streaming of Court Proceedings) Rules, 2021 will be applicable to hybrid hearings as well.
Furthermore, once the pilot implementation of hybrid hearings is deemed successful, the scope of this facility will gradually be expanded to other benches of the High Court.
In a similar development, the Manipur High Court has also commenced hearing cases using the hybrid mode. The Computer Committee of the Manipur High Court is currently in the process of implementing hybrid functioning in the District Courts of Manipur as well.
