Delhi HC Issues Notification Setting Out Rules For Proceedings Through Video Conferencing

The Delhi High Court on Monday became one of the very first High Courts to have full-fledged rules for Video Conferencing, namely “High Court of Delhi Rules for Video Conferencing for Courts 2020″. The Court has issued these rules in the exercise of its power under Articles 225 and 227 of the Indian Constitution.

The rules states that Video conferencing facilities may be used at all stages of judicial proceedings and proceedings conducted by the Court. It further states that all the proceedings conducted by a Court via video conferencing shall be judicial proceedings and all the courtesies and protocols applicable to a physical Court shall apply to these virtual proceedings.

The Rules setting out the requirements for a Video Conferencing proceeding states, the following equipment are recommended that includes:

• Desktop, Laptop, mobile devices with internet connectivity and printer;
• Device ensuring uninterrupted power supply;
• Camera;
• Microphones and speakers;
• Display unit;
• Document visualizer;
• Provision of a firewall;
• Adequate seating arrangements ensuring privacy;
• Adequate lighting; and
• Availability of a quiet and secure space.

It mentions that there shall be no unauthorized recording of the proceedings by any person or entity and the required person will have to provide Government recognized identity proofs via personal email. 

The Court has allowed Advocates and person required for hearing that they may be present Overseas, Court of Another State or UT of India, Mediation Centre or office of District Legal Services Authority, Jail or prison, Hospitals administered by the Central Government, the State Government or local bodies, child facility, women’s facility, institutional facilities, Forensic Science Lab and other locations. However, the rules say that there shall be a Coordinator both at the Court Point and at the Remote Point from which any Required Person is to be examined or heard.

The rules set out the responsibility of the Coordinators on both sides to ensure that the recommended requirements are complied with so that the proceedings are conducted seamlessly.

The rules further include Procedure for video conferencing and suggest that all participants shall wear sober attire consistent with the dignity of the proceedings. The statutory provision including Civil Procedure Code, Criminal Procedure Code, Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, Indian Evidence Act, 1872, and Information Technology Act, 2000 shall apply to the Video Conferencing proceedings the same as that of judicial proceedings.

Further, at the end of the notification of the rules, the court has attached a Request Form for Video Conference.

Read the notification here;

-India Legal Bureau