Coronavirus pandemic: SC hears cases through video link

The Supreme Court in view of the litigants and counsels' hardship in appearing before the court due to the coronavirus pandemic suggested that the cases should be heard through video link. Justice Qazi Faez Isa, was heading a two-member bench on Thursday, while hearing a rent case wherein the respondent counsel sought adjournment as he was advised to self-quarantine.

According to the proposals; "The cases may be heard by the use of the said video-conferencing application after the confirmation of the lawyer identity. The applications such as Skype, WhatsApp, Telegram or any other suitable video conferencing platform be installed in the said Supreme Court cell phone and the counsel should also be asked to install the same application in their devices."

The proposal says that in this regard demonstration of the workability of the proposed system be given to the representatives of the Pakistan Bar Council and the Supreme Court Bar Association, offices of Attorney General for Pakistan and advocate generals and prosecutor generals for their opinion.

He further suggested maintaining transparency and openness during the proceedings and that the screen of the court cell phone may be mirrored on television sets, which are already installed in every courtroom. "The possibility of preserving the recording of the court proceedings (six months) be explored," the proposal stated.

The order proposed that each courtroom or bench be provided with a WiFi-connected cell phone, while the number of cellular devices to be mentioned in the cause list, and on the website of the apex court.

The divisional bench also recommended that this task be assigned to the apex court's Information and Technology Department. However, before using the proposed system, the IT wing should ensure successful trial runs.