A group of plaintiffs and two prominent individuals filed a petition before the Supreme Court demanding access to justice through virtual courts as a fundamental right for the litigants. The petition also asks the Supreme Court’s e-committee to issue a mandate to the high courts not to stop using videoconferencing and virtual courts until the Supreme Court’s e-committee gives its approval.
National Federation of Societies for Fast Justice, former Central Information Commissioner (CIC) and RTI campaigner Shailesh Gandhi, and former Mumbai Police Commissioner Julio Ribeiro submitted the plea. The petition, filed on Wednesday, explicitly challenged two High Courts’ decision to suspend virtual court hearings and resume physical hearings.
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The petition, filed by advocate Mrigank Prabhakar, also stated that the Supreme Court’s e-committee had promoted virtual courts as the most accessible, affordable, transparent, and inexpensive mode of justice available to litigants in the country, particularly those from marginalised groups.
The National Federation of Societies for Fast Justice, fighting for judicial reforms and working grassroots to ensure that the country’s impoverished, disadvantaged, and economically weaker sectors have access to justice.
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While issuing notice, the bench noted that the petition appeared to be in the interests of attorneys rather than litigants. A physical court hearing experience not only assists plaintiffs but also helps new attorneys learn, according to the bench. The current petition is the first of its type, filed by plaintiffs seeking a declaration that every litigant in the country has the right to access justice through virtual courts as a fundamental Right.
