27/06/2026
https://youtu.be/qAnCWmzQqvk?si=oSGWcC2MioDE608I
Part-1.
E-courts, which necessarily would mean Virtual courts, is an idea for which my humble self has been campaigning since 2010. The Government has spent hundreds of crores of rupees for the same. The Central Government has allotted Rs. 7210 crores for Phase 3 of the E-Court Project. In the 2026-27 Budget, Rs. 1200 crores has been allotted for E-courts. However, as days go by, far from Virtual courts becoming a reality, what is happening is exactly the opposite. In Bombay High Court, access to public of Virtual courts has been suspended. Lower courts — whatever facilities were available — are put to disuse. We cannot allow that to happen.
I have a few cases at Court No. 9 of the City Civil Court, Bombay. When my junior asked for VC to enable me to join, that was declined. We moved the Principal District Judge, a gem of a judge. He readily agreed to direct the Civil Judge at Court No. 9 to hear me on VC.
I am posting the hearing on VC that happened on the direction of the District Judge. I appeared online as I was traveling. My juniors joined online from my office. Since the case involves substantial questions of law as to the interpretation of the Constitution and the SARFAESI Act, MSME Act, etc., my juniors were recording the hearing for academic purposes. However, on the orders of the judge, they were removed from the Virtual court. They could not therefore record the entire proceedings. On being told my juniors were removed from the Virtual court, I insisted that they be re-inducted. The court finally agreed and continued my argument. 20 to 30 minutes of argument could not be recorded.
Publicity is the soul of justice, and Virtual hearing is the surest guarantee against all sorts of evils and inequities. Today, the VC records are not preserved or available to the lawyers or litigant public. That is unfortunate. The Government has spent hundreds of crores for Virtual courts. Video recording of court proceedings and access to such records is now recognized to be an integral part of the very freedom of speech and expression. We cannot afford the Virtual hearing and access to such records — a fundamental right — being denied. Unless we act today and assert our rights, all the money spent on Virtual courts will go to waste. I have been relentlessly campaigning for video recording of court proceedings and preservation of such records, and for making such records available to the litigant public and lawyers. I call upon one and all to join me in the pursuit of this noble cause.
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