New Delhi [India], October 12 (ANI): Retired Supreme Court Judge Justice Hima Kohli recently shared her insights on the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), virtual court proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic and social media trolling.
She highlighted AI’s positive role in the judiciary, particularly in facilitating virtual court proceedings and paperless systems. Explaining how the judiciary became acquainted with tech-friendly and virtual court proceedings Kohli expressed that AI had a very positive role to play for the judiciary.
In an exclusive interview with ANI, Justice Kohli noted that India was one of the few jurisdictions that continued to function during the pandemic, thanks to virtual courts. Initially introduced for taxation and arbitration matters, virtual courts expanded to all jurisdictions during the pandemic.
“In Delhi High Court, initially when AI was introduced and PDF files, paperless courts were introduced, they were confined to only matters relating to taxation and arbitration. We hadn’t expanded it to all jurisdictions but when COVID hit us, we had no choice but to function in every jurisdiction virtually,” Justice Kohli said.
Recalling the days when everything was shut down during the pandemic, Justice Kohli said that at that time virtual court gained a lot of impacts and called it one of the advantages because the doors of the court were kept wide open during the peak pandemic when everything was shut down. “I think India was one of the few jurisdictions where courts continued to function through such a tough phase,” Justice Kohli said.
Giving all credit to the staff, to the registry, she said that court staff were the backbone of the judges who were working overnight just to ensure that the judicial officers got the files.
Though the number of cases was fewer at that time the urgent cases were being listed without exception. “And the fact that a litigant could sit at home and see the proceedings that were happening in court was a big thing then. So as far as AI is concerned, I think that it had a very positive role to play for us,” Justice Kohli said.
“Another aspect was that as we got used to PDF files, virtual appearances, hybrid modes also came in later on, some people who couldn’t have come to the court physically could log in and see the proceedings. Some lawyers were difficult, could stay at home in any part of the country and log on. It worked wonderfully for women litigants and women lawyers too, because women have to multitask and women lawyers had a home to run and do so many things, take care of their parents being the primary caretakers for their children, they need not have come to court or their office. They could work from home, attend to their case and maybe go back to some work, attend to another case in another court,” Justice Kohli said.
On judges being trolled on social media, Justice Kohli acknowledged its negative impact but emphasized accepting it as part of the system. She suggested focusing on the benefits of social media and moving forward.
“We have to take the bad with the good and look at the good, which is more predominant than the bad, perhaps accepted as part of the system and go on.” She also mentioned her absence from social media ever since she was appointed as a judge. Justice Kohli said that if you don’t know what happening around you, it’s better for you. “You are more free in your mind to say and do what you think is right in the matter. So I think we’ll have to accept it and get on it,” she said.
Justice Kohli also explained the role of the state High Court during the pandemic and said that being a judge of Delhi High Court and Chief Justice of Telangana High Court during the pandemic, how she monitored the COVID-19 situation.
Justice Kohli intervened to ensure ambulances weren’t stopped at borders, allowing patients to access medical treatment in Hyderabad.
During the second wave, Justice Kohli was the Chief Justice of the Telengana HC and moved to Hyderabad and by then Oxygen and access to medicines were a big issue.
At one stage the state government of Telangana shut the borders to other states so that patients suffering from COVID could not crossover and treat them. Hyderabad is a hub for medical treatment, known for its quality medical facilities and big hospitals. (ANI)
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