The Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association has requested the High Court to keep the video-conferencing (VC) hearing facility open for all instead of allowing it only on a prior request/ intimation basis..The appeal by the bar was made in response to an official letter sent by the Registrar General to the Bar stating that VC facilities were not being used adequately by advocates. The Registrar General had conveyed the High Court Chief Justice's request that advocates be encouraged to adopt virtual mode for appearing in cases fixed before the Courts.In a response sent today, the High Court Bar Association (HCBA) complained that entry to VC hearings is restricted."That in some Hon'ble Courts VC hearing facility is open and it is very useful for all the Advocates but in other Courts we have to send prior intimation for VC hearing and specific Courts enter Advocates for VC hearing only when their item reaches. It becomes very difficult for Advocates to join only when their item reaches," the communication reads..Accordingly, the HBCA made a request that all Courts must allow all the participants in the VC hearing when they request to join the VC hearing without any requirement of prior intimation."There is no requirement of prior intimation for VC hearing when we join for VC hearing at Hon'ble High Court of Delhi and VC hearings are open for all. Hybrid hearings are running very efficiently at NCLT Chandigarh Bench and open for all. Same model should have been followed by the Hon'ble Punjab and Haryana High Court," it said.
