Telangana introduces mobile courts; allows victims, witnesses to testify in virtual mode

Under this system, witnesses and victims including women and children can testify, record statements, and present evidence from remote locations if circumstances do not permit them to appear before courts in person.

Besides victims and witnesses, doctors, medical practitioners, and investigation officers can also testify in virtual mode. The mobile court unit facility is meant for subordinate courts.

The mobile court units are equipped with CCTV cameras, laptops, a printer, LED TV, web camera, inverter, scanner, UPS, an extra monitor, and speaker which can visit the victim or the witness on the spot, according to the Department of Justice in the Law Ministry.

Witness or other people including an accused involved in court proceedings, in such circumstances where there is an explicit or implicit threat to the personal safety of such a witness or person; or, it is, impossible, extremely difficult, expensive, inconvenient, or otherwise not desirable for such witness/person to attend a court in person, are eligible to use the mobile court facility.

People, who are unable to, or, prevented from attending the court in person, for reasons arising from tender years, extreme old age, disease or disability of body, or any other cause of the same kind can also use the facility.

Such person may also be allowed to testify, or make submissions by means of video conferencing through the mobile court units, who is unable to appear in person, due to administrative and work contingencies, including the remoteness of their work locations.

The standard operating procedure makes it clear that the mobile court unit will be understood as an extension of the court, whose proceedings are being conducted through such a unit.

Accordingly, the proceedings conducted through such Mobile Court Unit shall be conducted as judicial proceedings in a Court, with observance of same courtesies and protocols, applicable to the dignity of a court.