The Gujarat High Court, presided over by Justice Vaibhavi D Nanavati, passed an interim order on Tuesday directing the Ahmedabad bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to permit the use of electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, and notebooks during hearings and proceedings.
The court was hearing a writ petition filed by Nipun Praveen Singhvi against the NCLT. The petitioner argued that the NCLT had posted a notice outside the courtroom prohibiting the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices, which could have adverse effects in an age when both the bar and the bench require electronic gadgets.
Justice Nanavati stated that while the NCLT cannot impose an absolute restriction on electronic devices, it can enforce reasonable restrictions to ensure that tribunal proceedings are not disrupted. “An absolute restriction on the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices be modified in an appropriate manner considering the spirit and the order passed by the Hon’ble Apex Court, as also the directions issued from time to time, to be technologically adept and to see to it that the advocates, litigants, and the Courts are technologically adept,” the Court said.
After considering the submissions, the court issued a notice to the NCLT, returnable by February 23. In line with the Supreme Court’s directives in the case of Sarvesh Mathur v. The Registrar General, Punjab and Haryana High Court, the court granted interim relief by directing the NCLT to permit the use of electronic devices, subject to further orders.
The petitioner was represented by Senior Advocate Percy Kavina and advocate Vishal J Dave.
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