Delhi Court Fines Accused for Poor Video Conferencing Setup

On Wednesday, a court imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 on an accused individual for causing an adjournment due to inadequate arrangements for appearing via video conferencing (VC). The Additional Sessions Judge Pulastya Pramachala presided over a rioting case filed by the Khajuri Khas police station, which was at the stage where the prosecution was submitting its evidence.

The court observed that the examination of a Delhi Police official had to be postponed because the accused, Sarfaraz, chose to appear via VC, but encountered technical difficulties as his video was not functioning properly. Despite waiting for Sarfaraz to rectify the issue, the video continued to experience interruptions, with the accused citing poor network connectivity on his end.

Highlighting the permission granted by the Delhi High Court for litigants to appear via VC, the court emphasized the necessity for a stable video and audio connection. It stressed that once a litigant or their counsel opts for VC appearance, it is their responsibility to ensure seamless connectivity without any disruptions.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the situation, the court levied a fine of Rs 1,000 on the accused for causing the adjournment. The case is scheduled to resume on May 8 for further proceedings.