Video-conferencing in courts in india: an emerging trend

Author: 
Dr. Jasdeep Kaur

Video-conferencing is an advancement in science and technology which permits one to see, hear and talk with someone far away, with the same facility and ease as if he is present before you that is, in your presence. It has nothing to do with virtual reality. It would permit witness to adduce evidence without being physically present in the Court. It will allow the court to record the statement of a witness important to the trial that is unable to appear in the court thus being invaluable to the criminal trial. Thus video-conferencing permits virtual interfacing of a judge with witnesses, holding of conferences, production of under-trial prisoners etc. The facility could be installed in prisons, court premises or in the judge's office. The judge would be able to interact with prisoners. This would definitely save a lot of time and resources, which would have been involved in the physical transportation of prisoners from jail to the court. The policemen and the other concerned authorities could also be spared so that they can utilize their time in other official tasks. The displaying of the evidence in case of video conferencing has been accepted as a valid mean of submitting evidence. However this process is used only in remand cases and not in case of trial. Video conferencing is a step towards disposal of long pendency of cases in the courts. Thus it must be initiated from lower to higher court level.

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DOI: 
http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijcar.2019.19360.3730
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