SC asks states to set up video conferencing for remote depositions

The bench comprising of Justice L Nageswara Rao and Justice Hemant Gupta were hearing a matter pertaining to the lack of video conferencing facilities for children to give depositions remotely in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court today directed West Bengal, Assam and Rajasthan to set up video conferencing facility for victims of child trafficking to appear before the court remotely.It also asked the states to provide statistics of child victims of human trafficking who are required to depose in courts outside the state.

The bench comprising of Justice L Nageswara Rao and Justice Hemant Gupta were hearing a matter pertaining to the lack of video conferencing facilities for children to appear before the court in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic.

Today the amicus curiae in the case suggested the court that proper infrastructure of video conferencing shall be installed and remote point coordinator shall be appointed with whom the court can coordinate.

"Necessary equipment for video conferencing including desktop or a laptop connected to the Internet with a functioning broadband connection and anti-virus software device, a waiting area with a restroom to maintain the privacy of children and other related facilities are amongst the suggestions made by the amicus," observed the court.

Taking a note of the suggestions by the amicus curiae and the petitioner, the court said that there is also a need to ensure that a child is not influenced or pressurised when they report through video conferencing. It suggested the appointment of a retired judicial officer as a coordinator for which the amicus will consult the state legal authorities and submit a report in the next hearing.

Counsel for Bihar submitted that the infrastructure already exists in the state and will submit an affidavit about it in the next hearing.

The court will hear the matter again in the second week of January.