Videoconferencing: An Emerging Concept in Courtroom

Abstract

Amidst the lockdown because of COVID-19 outbreak, every institution has been shut down but even in times of such global crisis people cannot be denied access to justice and the judiciary cannot be halted. Therefore, the Apex court looked for different options rather than the conventional one to continue its functioning and technology comes into rescue, with the Supreme court continuing its functioning by conducting case hearing through video conferencing. In this paper, we discuss different aspects of conducting court proceedings through video conferencing and look into the process of development of e-courts over the decades and how with the help of technology and modern advancement the courts have today become capable of conducting court proceedings even while the judges and lawyers are not in one courtroom. We also look into how the court has over the time utilised technology to overcome the situation, from allowing the witnesses living in different parts of the world to depose through video conferencing using common video calling apps like WhatsApp calling or Skype, to suspected criminals deposing from the Jail through video conferencing, then we also analyse the pros and cons of bringing video conference in the process of conducting court proceedings and at last, we look into the various options and suggestions the Apex court has looked into for bringing more involvement of technology into the high courts and other courts in long term and what challenges currently the litigators and Judges of the Supreme court and the High courts are facing due to the sudden change in their work style.

Keywords: Videoconferencing, COVID-19, technology, e-courts, data protection, confidentiality