SC Seeks Responses from All HCs on Discontinuation of Hybrid Hearing Modes

The Supreme Court on Friday sought responses from all high courts and certain tribunals regarding the discontinuation of hybrid modes for hearing cases, which allowed lawyers and litigants to participate via video conferencing.

A bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Mishra’s issued notices to the registrars general of all high courts and registrars of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT), National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC), and National Green Tribunal (NGT), instructing them to file affidavits.

The bench stated, “An affidavit be filed by the registrars on whether video-conferencing or hybrid hearings are being continued or disbanded.”

Additionally, it asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to consult the finance ministry and other relevant ministries regarding the status of hybrid hearings at the Debt Recovery Appellate Tribunal, debt recovery tribunals, and similar quasi-judicial bodies.

The Apex Court took note of petitioner Sarvesh Mathur’s submissions, who appeared in person, that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had ceased virtual hearings, causing inconvenience to litigants.

In response, the bench expressed gratitude for bringing this matter to their attention and stated, “We will do something for the cause, which we were thinking about for a long time. We will ask the high courts who have disbanded virtual hearings. You have brought to the notice of the court a very important issue. We are seeking a response from all the high courts and some tribunals to see what the status is.”

The court indicated that it would consider other issues related to expeditious hearings of the petitioner’s case pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court at a later time. It stated, “We can issue directions for an expeditious hearing by the high court anytime, but if we pass the direction now, then we will have to dispose of the petition, and the other issue of virtual hearings will not get solved.”