{"id":15507,"date":"2020-12-11T10:50:07","date_gmt":"2020-12-11T05:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itatonline.org\/info\/?p=15507"},"modified":"2020-12-11T10:50:07","modified_gmt":"2020-12-11T05:20:07","slug":"can-virtual-courts-be-extended-permanently-to-the-tribunals-itat-to-offer-suggestions-to-parliamentary-committee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itatonline.org\/info\/can-virtual-courts-be-extended-permanently-to-the-tribunals-itat-to-offer-suggestions-to-parliamentary-committee\/","title":{"rendered":"Can Virtual Courts Be Extended Permanently To The Tribunals? ITAT To Offer Suggestions To Parliamentary Committee"},"content":{"rendered":"

The department related Parliamentary standing committee on personnel Public grievance Law and Justice has submitted its 103rd report<\/a> on functioning of the virtual courts\/Court proceedings through video conferencing. <\/p>\n

Recommendation number 20 made by the committee in the aforesaid report reads as under-\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Committee is also of the opinion that Virtual Courts can be extended permanently to various Appellate Tribunals like TDSAT, IPAB, NCLAT etc., located across the country which do not require personal appearances of the parties\/advocates. Permanent Virtual Courts can also be established for hearing matters relating to Administrative and other Tribunals at the time of final hearing. This will cut down the cost and increase the efficiency in disposal of the cases without being unnecessarily being adjourned. The Committee is also of the opinion that necessary Amendments may be brought in laws to legalise Virtual Courts and its proceedings without being unnecessarily challenged before Courts.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

Department-Related Parliamentary standing Committee on personnel, Public Grievances, law and Justice<\/strong><\/p>\n

One Hundred-Third Report on Functioning of Virtual Courts\/Court Proceedings through <\/a> Video Conferencing<\/a> (Interim Report) dated September 11, 2020 <\/p>\n

Parliament committee had taken up the subject Functioning of the Virtual\/Court Proceedings through Video Conferencing ‘after the COVID -19pandemic.The Committee had a detailed discussion on the subject with all probable stake holders. After discussion, it has decided to present Interim Report on the subject so as to highlight the issues in the present situation. The Committee will deliberate further on these issues and will present its Final Report at later stage after complete deliberation on the subject.<\/p>\n

Brief summary is as under <\/p>\n

Chapter -I <\/strong>Discusses the Virtual Courts of various countries and India <\/p>\n

(United States, Singapore, Turkey, Canada, Italy and Virtual Courts in India)<\/p>\n

Chapter -II<\/strong> Challenges of Virtual Courts<\/p>\n

(Digital divide, Technological competence, poor Digital connectivity, open court principle, Data privacy and Data security, Indigenous Hard ware and Software, Infrastructural constraint and need for revised policy etc.)<\/p>\n

Chapter – III<\/strong> Benefits of the Virtual Courts and way forward
\n (Management of Docket explosion, Access to justice, Speedy Justice, proportionate justice, Pilot project and the way forward,  The committee also recommended that  Bar Council of India may introduce computer  course as one of the subjects in three year\/ five year courses to enable the students to get trained in handling computers and get adapted to the online systems while they pursue the law course. This will help to educate and equip budding lawyers with knowledge and skills required for handling digital platforms .etc) <\/p>\n

The Income-tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) invited suggestionson Recommendation of the 103rd report of the department Related Parliament Standing Committee on the Functioning of Virtual Court proceedings through Video Conferencing<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n

The Hon’ble  Mr. Justice P.P Bhatt, President of the ITAT has nominated Hon’bleShri P.M Jagtap Vice -President ITAT Kolkata Zone, Hon’ble Shri N.V. Vasudevan Vice -President ITAT Bangalore Bench and Hon’ble Shri G.S Pannu, Vice President Delhi Zoneto ascertain the views of all the stake holders. <\/p>\n

The report of the nominated members to be submitted to the Hon’ble President by December 11, 2020. All stake holders are requested to give their views on or before December 10, 2020to the following mail Kolkata.bench@itat.nic.in<\/a> <\/p>\n

The Committee members have arranged the  virtualmeetings withHon’ble Vice-Presidents, Senior Members of the ITAT, representatives ofvariousTax Bar Associations, Departmental Representatives, Representatives ofInstitutes of Chartered Accountants of India and alsofrom the Registry of various Benches. <\/p>\n

ITAT has Benches in than 27 locationsand also have 2 circuit Benches.It ishearteningto note thatin two days deliberations more than100  stake holders views have beentaken in to consideration.It was a well organisedand well-designed interactive session taking in to confidence all the stake holders across the Country.<\/p>\n

Summary of the suggestions as under:<\/p>\n

1. Tax Bar is not opposed to the idea of virtual hearings <\/p>\n

2. Option should be given to assesses as well as departmental representatives to choose whether they would like to be  heard by the Physical mode or Virtual mode. Hybrid system should be continued <\/p>\n

3. Though the stake involved may be small,  if the assessee requests for  a physical hearing the request should be granted<\/p>\n

4. When an assessee or department opt for virtual hearing, and at the time of hearing if they are of the view, they are not able to present properly they may be given an option of going back to physical hearing. When the ITAT started e-Benches there was a specific provision to opt out. This may be continued for virtual hearing <\/p>\n

5. When the Hon’ble members decide on virtual hearing, the process of consultation or view of other member cannot be effectively ascertained this is a major disadvantage in virtual hearings. One may have to debate how consultation process can be effectively implemented  <\/p>\n

6. Very poor connectivity hence many a times it is difficult to hear the arguments of other side or questions put up by the members in the course of virtual hearing  <\/p>\n

7. When the paper book is very voluminous it is very difficult to refer the matter to virtual hearing<\/p>\n

8. When case records to be seen and shown to the other side it may not be possible in virtual hearing <\/p>\n

9. When case laws are cited at the time of hearing, it may be difficult toread and assertion an whether it is applicable or distinguishable. On physical hearing the Junior lawyer is able to bring the case laws from the library and the arguing counsel is able to say how it is applicable or not applicable. It may be difficult in the course of virtual hearing <\/p>\n

10. Many a times when a point is to be explained the counsel has to read the judgements and the members may also have to read with counsel to appreciate the view point, which is very difficult in a virtual set up.<\/p>\n

11. Registry-staff is not well equipped to completely change over to virtual mode, they need training and proper infrastructure.<\/p>\n

12. Tax consultants are also required to be updated with technology. <\/p>\n

13. The ITAT may have to develop separate system for better presentation <\/p>\n

14. Confidentiality has to be taken care  in the course of virtual hearing <\/p>\n

15. ITAT rules may be amended for the virtual hearing <\/p>\n

16. It is suggested that the ITAT Bench may consider appointing amicus curiae to assist the Court. The counsel can be requested to assist from any part of the Country , this may help the Court to deliver a qualitative judgment, when an important question of law is involved <\/p>\n

17. In some of the places where load shedding or electricity connectivity is an issue, this needs to be addressed for effective implementation of virtual court hearing <\/p>\n

18.  Facilitation center may be established in Each Zone of the ITAT which can be utilized by the tax consultants and tax payers <\/p>\n

19. ITAT being a final fact finding authority on direct taxes it decides the facts and law , hence the functioning of the ITAT cannot be equated with functioning of other Tribunals   <\/p>\n

20. Where an important issue is involved and if it is affecting large number of assesses. When an assessee is not represented before the Tribunal or in case if represented  the court is  not getting proper assistance it may be desirable for the Bench to request the Bar Members to assist the Bench as amicus curiae<\/em>. Normally High Courts and Supreme Court follows this procedure. Once the judgement is delivered the it is binding on all the Tribunal till it reversed by the higher forum. <\/p>\n

21. Some of the matters which can be heard virtually are:<\/p>\n