‘Not Done Judicially As Is Done On Administrative Side’: CJI Chandrachud On Hybrid Hearings

The Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Thursday remarked that many a times things were not done judicially as is done on the administrative level while observing that hybrid hearings were not still fully practice in high courts.

“I am going to Orissa tomorrow to attend the ICT conference. I will be meeting judges of the ICT committee. There is so much that is not done judicially as is done on the administrative side. I’m seized of the matter. I have written to Chief Justices of High Courts too,” the CJI stated.

The remark was prompted by a mention of hybrid hearings made by Advocate Siddharth Gupta.

The mention was made before a bench consisting of CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice PS Narasimha, and Justice JB Pardiwala.

Gupta informed the bench that, despite the increase in COVID cases, many High Courts were not allowing hybrid hearings. As a result, he requested an urgent hearing on his petition to reinstate hybrid hearings in all High Courts.

As the number of COVID cases in the country has increased, some High Courts have already shifted to hybrid hearings. Since April 10, 2023, the Madras High Court has allowed hybrid mode of hearing at both the Principal bench and the Madurai bench. Earlier this year, a Supreme Court bench of Justice SK Kaul and Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka stated verbally that all courts in the country require a hybrid system for hearing cases.

The CJI made strong remarks in February, while hearing petitions seeking hybrid hearings in High Courts, criticizing High Court Chief Justices who are shutting down the virtual courts option.

Last week, a bench led by the CJI heard a petition filed by lawyers from the Punjab and Haryana High Court about the lack of a hybrid hearing option and disposed of the matter, requesting the High Court’s Chief Justice to look into the grievances.