The Bombay High Court on Thursday strongly admonished the state government for not approving video conferencing facilities in courts and prisons as suggested by the court.
A division bench of Justice V M Kanade and Justice P D Kode said, "The judiciary is the last priority. The high court has been making requests for infrastructure and the government doesn't give any response. Other state governments provide all necessary facilities to the judiciary. Maharashtra's record is very poor."
Advocate M S Karnik, appearing for the court, had informed the bench that a proposal sent to the government with regards to video conferencing is yet to be approved. Justice Kanade said, "You don't consider us part of the system? Video conferencing will benefit the state. It will save Rs 15 lakh per day. Despite this, the government doesn't take it seriously."
The bench was hearing a bunch of petitions raising concerns about delayed criminal trials due of lack of sufficient police personnel for escorting under trial prisoners to courts on their due dates.
One of the petitions was filed by Shaikh Abdul Naeem, an inmate of Arthur Road prison, citing specific instances regarding 46 under trial prisoners who were not produced before trial courts. Moreover, their trials had to be adjourned on more than one occasion. Along with Naeem's plea, the high court has converted a letter received from the principal district judge of Jalna raising concern over unnecessary adjournments owing to non-production of accused.
"By way of PIL, we have to pass orders and only then the government looks into it. These matters shouldn't come to court. Administration should take care of it," said the court.
Additional public prosecutor Aruna Pai Kamath said the process has been initiated and a decision would be taken at the earliest. To this, the bench responded saying they had also heard in a PIL that there are no toilets for lady judicial officials in lower courts.
The court thereafter directed the state to consider the court's proposal at the earliest. "We hope and expect that the state will take a quick decision and sanction demand to connect courts with VC facility," it said, adjourning the hearing to after three weeks.
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