Can’t hear matters through VC with outdated computers, MAT tells Bombay HC

The Maharashtra administrative tribunal (MAT) In a report to the Bombay high court said that most of the computers that it uses for conducting hearings through video conferencing are very old.

The Maharashtra administrative tribunal (MAT) at its principal seat in Mumbai and benches at Nagpur and Aurangabad could not conduct hearings through video conferencing (VC) during the Covid-19 lockdown due to outdated computers and lack of technical manpower, MAT registrar Suresh Joshi has informed the Bombay high court.

The Bombay High Court. (HT PHOTO)

In a report submitted to the high court, Joshi has said that most of the computers being used at MAT are very old - purchased between 2007 and 2014 - for conducting VC hearings. Besides, the tribunals lack the technical manpower to conduct VC, he has said, adding that, at least two technical persons are required for the tribunal at Mumbai and one each at its benches.

Therefore, from June 2020, the tribunal has been conducting physical hearings - with two benches at Mumbai and one each at Nagpur and Aurangabad, the report states.

Working twice a week, MAT benches have during the Covid-19 pandemic heard a total of 1,220 cases filed during this period along with several other urgent matters, and have disposed of 599 cases, the report adds.

In his petition filed through advocate Vinod Sangvikar on October 6, Morbale complained that he had been stuck at his native place because of the pandemic and thousands of lawyers like him and litigants were deprived of access to MAT because of lack of online filing and hearing at the tribunal.

He had, therefore, sought directions to the MAT to conduct hearings through video conferencing on a daily basis and update its website to support the e-court system and make it user friendly.

As regards MAT website, Joshi said in his report that the tribunal has started its own website way back in July 2013. It is designed by Mahaonline Limited, only with certain basic features. He added that the space provided for the website on the state government’s server is insufficient and therefore whenever data is required to be uploaded on it, the tribunal has to approach the director, information technology.

The MAT registrar’s report also said that the tribunal has a chairman, three vice chairmen and five members, of which posts of three members - one member each at Mumbai, Nagpur and Aurangabad - are vacant, and two of the three vice chairmen are due to retire on November 17, 2020 and January 22, 2021.

Thus, no bench will be available at Aurangabad from November 17, 2020 and government employees from Marathwada region will have to move either to Mumbai or to Nagpur in case of urgency. For hearing regular matters from Marathwada region, MAT will have to make arrangement of circuit benches, the report said.