Examination of witnesses in criminal cases, through video conferencing was approved by the Supreme Court in a judgment reported in State of Maharashtra v. Dr. Praful B. Desai 2003 (2) ALT (Crl.) 118 (SC). When such is the facility accorded in criminal cases, there should not be any plausible objection for adopting the same procedure, in civil cases as long as the necessary facilities, with assured accuracy exist. In Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation v. NRI Film Production Associates (P) Ltd. . and Amitabh Bagchi v. Ena Bagchi . High Courts of Karnataka and Calcutta held that recording of evidence through video conferencing is permissible in law, provided that necessary precautions must be taken, both as to the identity of the witnesses and accuracy of the equipment, used for the purpose. Certain guidelines were indicated therein. The party, who intends to avail such facility, shall be under obligation to meet the entire expenditure.
For the foregoing reasons, C.R.P., is allowed and the order under revision is set aside. The I.A., shall stand allowed, subject to the conditions that:
(a) it shall be the obligation of the petitioner to arrange the necessary equipment for recording the evidence through video conferencing, duly satisfying the trial Court as to the accuracy of the equipment and identity of the witness;
(b) the petitioner shall be under obligation to display the passport and its individual pages as may be demanded, on behalf of respondent, and he shall abide by the directions of the Court, issued during the course of recording;
(c) the petitioner shall make necessary arrangements for undertaking this exercise within one month from to-day, in default, the trial Court shall proceed with the other steps.
Andhra High Court
Bodala Murali Krishna vs Smt. Bodala Prathima on 11 October, 2006
Citations: 2007 (2) ALD 72, 2007 (1) ALT 237
1. The petitioner is the husband of the respondent. Their marriage took place in the year 1977 and were blessed with a child. The respondent filed H.M.O.P.No. 136 of 2004 in the Court of Additional Senior Civil Judge, Narsaraopet, against the petitioner, for divorce under Section 13 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955. The trial of the O.P. commenced.
2. The petitioner is a resident of U.S.A. He filed I.A.No. 340 of 2006 seeking permission of the trial Court for recording his evidence through the video conferencing. The respondent opposed the application. Through its order, dated 15-6-2006, the trial Court dismissed the I.A. Hence, this C.R.P.
3. Sri D. Jagan Mohan Reddy, learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that there is nothing in the Evidence Act or C.P.C., which prohibits the recording of evidence through the video conferencing and in fact, the recent amendments to the Evidence Act, are in the direction of permitting such a procedure. He places reliance upon the judgments rendered by the Hon'ble Supreme Court and the High Courts of Karnataka and Calcutta.
4. Sri P. Vijaya Kiran, learned counsel for the respondent, on the other hand, submits that the effort of the petitioner is to avoid the production of passport, which contained an entry to the effect that a woman, by name, Satya, is married to him, and to avoid any pertinent questions. He contends that the recognized methods of cross-examination of witnesses are through appearance in the Court, or by appointing a Commissioner, and not otherwise.
5. The only question that arises for consideration in this C.R.P., is as to whether the petitioner can be extended the facility of deposing as a witness before the trial Court, through the process of video conferencing?
6. The amendments carried to the Evidence Act by introduction of Sections 65-A and 65-B are in relation to the electronic record. Sections 67-A and 73-A were introduced as regards proof and verification of digital signatures. As regards presumption to be drawn about such records, Sections 85-A, 85-B, 85-C, 88-A and 90-A were added. These provisions are referred only to demonstrate that the emphasis, at present, is to recognize the electronic records and digital signatures, as admissible pieces of evidence. It is no doubt true that the recording of evidence through the process of video conferencing is not specifically referred to in these provisions.
7. Examination of witnesses in criminal cases, through video conferencing was approved by the Supreme Court in a judgment reported in State of Maharashtra v. Dr. Praful B. Desai 2003 (2) ALT (Crl.) 118 (SC). When such is the facility accorded in criminal cases, there should not be any plausible objection for adopting the same procedure, in civil cases as long as the necessary facilities, with assured accuracy exist. In Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation v. NRI Film Production Associates (P) Ltd. . and Amitabh Bagchi v. Ena Bagchi . High Courts of Karnataka and Calcutta held that recording of evidence through video conferencing is permissible in law, provided that necessary precautions must be taken, both as to the identity of the witnesses and accuracy of the equipment, used for the purpose. Certain guidelines were indicated therein. The party, who intends to avail such facility, shall be under obligation to meet the entire expenditure.
8. For the foregoing reasons, C.R.P., is allowed and the order under revision is set aside. The I.A., shall stand allowed, subject to the conditions that:
(a) it shall be the obligation of the petitioner to arrange the necessary equipment for recording the evidence through video conferencing, duly satisfying the trial Court as to the accuracy of the equipment and identity of the witness;
(b) the petitioner shall be under obligation to display the passport and its individual pages as may be demanded, on behalf of respondent, and he shall abide by the directions of the Court, issued during the course of recording;
(c) the petitioner shall make necessary arrangements for undertaking this exercise within one month from to-day, in default, the trial Court shall proceed with the other steps.
9. There shall be no order as to costs.
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