Going Techy: Supreme Court will now use WhatsApp, Email for delivery of summons
- The Apex Court noted that “two blue ticks” on WhatsApp would convey that the reader has seen the notice
- The top court said that in case the blue ticks don’t show, the summons or notice could be delivered by email
- During the lockdown, SC judges were conducting hearings through video conferencing
Pointing out the need to adapt to new technology, Chief Justice SA Bobde had then said, “We have to accept the present situation and change our mindset. Eventually, it must settle down to a system of new and old. There are cases that must have to be heard in the congregation.”
He further said that in the future, artificial intelligence can prove to be useful in deciding cases. “In the future, AI will be useful in deciding cases… if AI had been used, the Ayodhya case would have been decided without delay.”
Supreme Court judges, who were conducting hearings on video conference from home amid the nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, resumed hearings in courtrooms in May. While the respondents in the court are still required to attend only through video conference, the lawyers argue from their respective chambers.
Meanwhile, it should be noted that the suggestion for giving legal backing to the delivery of notices and summons via emails had come from Attorney General KK Venugopal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
Venugopal had however expressed reservations over the use of WhatsApp for the same, given the platform claims end-to-end encryption of the messages which would make it difficult to prove the legitimacy of the summons and notices sent.
