The Supreme Court on October 10, 2018, in the case of Re Case Management of Original Suits, has ordered that an assessment of “Live transcription” technology be made for recording of evidence.
A Bench of Chief JusticeRanjan Gogoi and Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and K.M. Joseph has passed the order in the suo motu case initiated by the Supreme Court to work out a mechanism for disposal of long pending civil suits in High Courts.
The Bench directed Attorney General (AG) K.K. Venugopal to be present during the live demonstration and to submit a report to the Court on the same.
The direction by the Court came pursuant to the submissions of Senior AdvocateHarish Salve who is Amicus Curiae in the case.
“Shri Salve has further submitted that the learned Attorney General, who is present in Court, may be requested to participate in the process of assessment of the aforesaid technology to which the learned Attorney General has readily agreed. Let a live demonstration of the same be presented before the learned Attorney General, who will offer his suggestions to the Court on or before the next date fixed,” the order reads.
Further, Harish Salve suggested that “live transcription” technology be carried out on an experimental basis so as to expedite recording of evidence, particularly in commercial matters.
“Salve has also submitted that to expedite the recording of the evidence, particularly, in commercial matters, the system referred to as ‘Live Transcription’ may be experimented and the effectiveness thereof may be assessed. If found effective, the same may be considered for being implemented,” the order reads.
Moreover, the Court also ordered that the details of the technology including its actual working be made available to the Registry of the Supreme Court in a pen drive.
The Supreme had initiated the case to work out a mechanism to dispose of long-pending civil suits in different High Courts. It had first sought the response of Delhi High Court for the same.
Initially, the Delhi High Court had contemplated amendments to the existing Delhi High Court Original Side Rules and Practice Directions. Subsequently, in a periodical report submitted by the Registrar General of High Court, it was informed that instead of amendments to the existing Rules, the Court would frame of a new set of Rules to comprehensively deal with the situation.
Subsequently, in January this year, the Delhi High Court had notified the Delhi High Court (Original Side) Rules, 2018 which replaced the 1967 Rules on the subject.
The matter is now listed for hearing in the second week of January 2019.
