JUSTICE CHANDRACHUD: NO BIG DEAL IF SOMEBODY RECORDS PROCEEDINGS ON MOBILE PHONE WHAT I SAY, IT’S AN OPEN COURT ANYWAY

In this regard, the conversation emanated from Justice Chandrachud finding out counsels referring to hard copy of compilations. It was commended by him that the Apex Court has been encouraging advocates to refer to soft copies of judgments, as it would save paper as well as relieve them from carrying massive compilations with them.

On Tuesday, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, the Supreme Court judge who has been advocating the use of technology in legal proceedings for quite some time now, made some interesting remarks on the use of electronic devices in courtrooms. During the Course of hearing, Mr. Vijay Hansaria, the Senior Advocate apprised Justice Chandrachud that often in High Courts, the judges do not encourage the use of phones in the courtrooms.

While indicating that there should be a change in the mindset, an incident was narrated by Justice Chandrachud where he found someone recording what was being said in his courtroom. It was remarked by him that instead of taking the traditional view on the issue, he had reckoned that if something is being said in open court then there is no harm in recording it.

Further, he stated that yesterday, I saw someone in my court using a mobile device, possibly recording what we were saying. I said (to myself), If anything is said by me in the open court and if somebody wants to record it, what is the big deal? Anyway, in the open court we are saying it. Adding to it, he stated that one should refrain from prying into the discussions that the Judges have amongst themselves during the course of the hearing.

In this regard, the conversation emanated from Justice Chandrachud finding out counsels referring to hard copy of compilations. It was commended by him that the Apex Court has been encouraging advocates to refer to soft copies of judgments, as it would save paper as well as relieve them from carrying massive compilations with them.

“We are tired of reading and to telling soft copies from SCC OnLine.”

Mr. Ranjit Kumar, Senior Advocate joined Justice Chandrachud’s appeal to refer to online copies of judgements. An anecdote was shared by him: Justice D.S.Singhvi used to say why are you wasting paper and making compilations, when we have books in courts and the same are lying there occupying so much space.

Supreme Court judge, Justice Chandrachud indicated that he would ask the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Mr. Vikas Singh to arrange session during the October vacations for a training to facilitate advocates to use technology in court hearings. He remarked that ““I will request Mr. Vikas Singh to do something in this regard i.e., training in the October vacation.”

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