Delhi HC moots ‘pragmatic and liberal approach’ in allowing witnesses to depose through Video Conferencing [Read Judgment]

“There may be situations where a witness even though within the city may still want the evidence to be recorded through video conferencing in order to save time or avoid inconvenience, the Court should take a pragmatic view”, the Bench said.Delhi High Court in International Planned Parenthood Federation vs. Madhu Bala Nath has observed that Courts must be liberal and pragmatic. “There may be situations where a witness even though within the city may still want the evidence to be recorded through video conferencing in order to save time or avoid inconvenience, the Court should take a pragmatic view”, the Bench said. Delhi High Court in International Planned Parenthood Federation vs. Madhu Bala Nath has observed that Courts must be liberal and pragmatic in allowing the witnesses to depose through Video conferencing. To insist on the witness travelling to Court and waiting for hours may not be judicious.” Even witnesses within city may be allowed to depose through video conferencing The Court also observed that merely because a witness is travelling over the world and/or may have the financial resources to travel to India does not necessarily imply that the Court must insist upon the witness personally coming to the Court.