BCI seeks free WiFi, Laptops from Governement for all needy lawyers to attend virtual hearings

After the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, since the Courts have been functioning virtually, there are lawyers who are unable to access virtual hearings due to lack of the requisite facilities such as laptops or WiFi.

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has identified and highlighted grievances of lawyers regarding their inability to access and utilise virtual hearings. The BCI has requested the Union and state governments to provide needy lawyers of the country with basic Ipads/laptops for the purposes of e-filing and virtual hearings from their homes, offices.

In the letter, Senior Advocate Manan Kumar Mishra – Chairman of the BCI, has also requested provision of free and effective WiFi connections in the premises of all the Bar Associations of the country with advanced scanners and advanced computer systems of a minimum of at least 2 in all District Courts, 4 in all High Courts and 1 in Taluka Courts Bar Associations’.

The BCI in its meeting has also requested that the Supreme Court and High Courts take initiatives to resume hearings in open courts depending on the prevailing conditions of the places. The Supreme Court has formed a seven-Judge committee to decide on resuming of physical hearings in the Apex Court.

The BCI has requested resuming of physical hearing in Courts in places where COVID-19 cases are lesser and the situation appears to be normal and under control.

The District Judges should take steps to resume physical hearings after laying down and making efforts for ensuring the effective norms of social distancing, sanitization of court-rooms, and Bar Associations buildings (twice daily) should be ensured. In the meantime, virtual hearings should start and/or continue, BCI said through the statement.

In the letter, the Supreme Court and High courts have been requested to provide trainers to train advocates about e-filings for a period of four weeks in every District and Taluka Court, and for two weeks in High Courts.

It also added that data fibre connectivity, internet connectivity is not uniform throughout the country. There are many areas where internet connectivity in itself is very poor and slow and in many remote places, there is no connectivity at all.

“We cannot ignore the fact, that India is a vast country and majority of advocates live in rural and semi-rural and semi-urban areas, and leaving aside metro cities and A category urban cities, rest of the cities and areas have internet connectivity issues, Moreover, the cost of usage is one extremely pertinent factor which can in no way be overlooked,” it said.