The Karnataka High Court has directed the Principal Secretary to Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj to explore the possibility of making available hybrid hearings through video conferencing, at all quasi judicial authorities. This was in the case of Manje Gowda v. State of Karnataka & Others (WRIT PETITION NO. 50646 OF 2016) and was presided over by a single judge bench of Justice Suraj Govindaraj.
FACTS OF THE CASE:
The grievance of the petitioner is that the orders at Annexure-A in Appeal No.7/2023 dated 16.1.2014 passed by the Zilla Panchayat at Annexure-A and the order dated 7.03.2002 passed by the President, Taluka Panchayat at Annexure-L are without jurisdiction inasmuch as neither of them have powers under Section 237 of the Panchayat Raj Act, 1993 to cancel the katha issued by the respondent No.4, Nagamangala taluka panchayat in favour of the father of the petitioner who had already deceased prior to the order being passed.
JUDGEMENT:
The Court held that, “The Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka is also directed to explore the possibility of appointing separate set of persons to deal with quasi judicial functions who is not required to discharge administrative functions, so that long pending matters can be completed at the earliest. In this age when courts have also installed hybrid hearings through video conferencing, the Prl. Secretary to explore the possibility of making available similar facilities at all quasi judicial authorities so as to enable easy access to justice to the citizens of the country. Assistance of the Secretary, E-governance Department to be taken in regard to the directions issued.”
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JUDGEMENT REVIEWED BY PRATIKSHYA P. BEURA
