Supreme Court today agreed to hear the batch of Petitions seeking access to Virtual Courts through Hybrid Mode as a Fundamental Right in the month of December 2021 #supremecourt 
The matter was mentioned by Senior Advocate
Sidharth Luthra before the Bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao and Abhay S. Oka, who queried Luthra in a lighter vein that effectively the writ Petitions are infructuous with the physical opening of all the Courts.
Sidharth Luthra before the Bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao and Abhay S. Oka, who queried Luthra in a lighter vein that effectively the writ Petitions are infructuous with the physical opening of all the Courts.
Luthra: This Court would be the last Court to make access to Virtual Courts through Hybrid Mode infructuous as we have filed the Petition on the basis of the directives issued by the E-Committee of this Court itself to all High Courts.
Justice Nageshwar Rao: Then we would like to hear you physically, when the Courts open completely as your submissions would be more effective and
persuading.
Luthra: I would love to be present before My Lords wherever, whenever Your Lordships asks me
persuading.
Luthra: I would love to be present before My Lords wherever, whenever Your Lordships asks me
Luthra: but here the issue is slightly different. It is about access to ..Courts through affordable, cost-effective and cheap mode. By the time we wait for
all the Courts to open physically, everything would become irreversible.
all the Courts to open physically, everything would become irreversible.
Luthra: High Courts have started closing down Virtual access completely even through Hybrid
option which was available everywhere.
option which was available everywhere.
Luthra: There’s an interlocutory application relating to the latest SOP of the Madhya Pradesh High Court as an example closing even their Hybrid option. So much money and resources has been invested, let it continue.
Luthra: Madhya High Court has invested huge amounts in purchasing their virtual application recently and within a week thereafter they closed it.
Luthra: Justice Nageshwar Rao: See Mr Luthra, it is not as simple as you are saying, there are many issues, effectiveness of personal presence of Senior Counsels.
Justice Rao: The other day Mr Patwalia appeared before us physically for a final hearing matter and we could feel the difference in his submissions, which used to make on screen and then physically. We shared our thoughts with him as well.
Justice Rao: So many, Seniors Advocates have also started coming physically. After all, it has happened
for 70 years, there is no harm if we restore the system back to normal as it had been.
for 70 years, there is no harm if we restore the system back to normal as it had been.
Luthra: I am just asking for a date. It’s an issue which has to be dealt with and decided by Your Lordships especially the issue of Fundamental Right. Please just give me a date because the Registry is perhaps not fixing the matter and that’s why we are here to mention before you
Justice Nageshwar Rao: Will hear you all at length. Will give a date in December. Just wait. There's a huge list of mentioning before us.
Luthra: I am grateful. Just hear us out, whenever your Lordships feel convenient
Luthra: I am grateful. Just hear us out, whenever your Lordships feel convenient
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
