Interview With Hon’ble Prem Ranjan Mishra, Registrar Cum Secretary, Patna High Court By Ms. Aadya Ambastha On Courts Operations Amidst COVID-19

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Ms. Aadya: HOW THE COURTS ARE OPERATING DURING COVID 19 PANDEMIC?

Hon’ble Prem Ranjan Mishra said that legal proceeding of the court is done through video conferencing to maintain social distancing. Cisco WebEx online app is being used for this purpose. He further said that the judges and lawyers representing petitioner and respondent are at their residential office. Password and link is generated and shared by the court master and technician. When the argument and pleadings are over, judge dictates the judgment. And I this away social distancing is properly maintained during this pandemic. Then the important order and information are uploaded on High Court website and through intra net it is easily accessible.

Sometimes there is the issue of connectivity faced in conducting the proceedings through online platform. But it does not interrupt the proceedings and is easily managed as audios are quite clear but because of connectivity videos disappear. And in low internet service area equipments have been used to increase the speed and intensity of network. Other than connectivity the problem is of using and touching the files. This problem is managed with the help of file sanitizer machine which costs around Rs. 8,000. This sanitizer machine is available at each Judge’s residential office. As well as E – filing is also introduced in order to control this problem. In e filing when all the drafting is done, then after screening and scanning all the files are uploaded at Patna High Court Website by the digitization section, then the Court master and technician makes it available on the screen and then judge can easily analyze and assess all the files. Currently when the cases are not increasing at higher rate and things are under control to some extent judges are generally okay with file sanitizer machine, so use of E filing is reduced.

There can be cyber threats but the information and data which is used for proceedings is only related with the charges of the accused and hence not too dangerous. And also said the use of online platform for court proceeding is just a temporary solution because of this pandemic once the things will be normal there will not be any kind of cyber security risks. Around 40 to 50 cases are heard by one judge. And currently there are 24 judges present in Patna High Court, hence around 960 cases are heard daily.