CHENNAI: The Madras high court has made it clear that merely because someone faces a criminal accusation and is required to defend the charge, it does not necessarily imply that they must surrender all their comforts and convenience to participate in the trial.
Justice N Seshasayee has also insisted that courts should resort to technology whenever possible to make life less cumbersome and more convenient for all concerned. The judge made these observations while exempting an octogenarian accused, facing charges under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, from appearing in person before a special court for CBI cases for framing of charges.
The court permitted him to attend the special court proceedings through a video conferencing facility.
The issue pertains to a plea moved by Jacob, seeking direction to the XI additional special judge for CBI cases, Chennai, for conducting the proceedings by video conference and not to insist on his physical presence in the court.
According to the petitioner, he has multiple ailments associated with his age. However, at this ripe age, he is facing the possibility of being charged by the special court. He claimed that the illnesses from which he is suffering include Parkinson's disease. Therefore, he wanted the special court to frame charges through video conferencing in the 17-year-old case.
Opposing the plea, the CBI submitted that the petitioner was shuttling between Bengaluru in Karnataka and Aluva in Kerala but was hesitant to come to court.
The court said once the investigation is over and the final report is taken on record by the court concerned, it becomes the responsibility of the court to frame charges. After all, the framing of charges is part of the procedure, and procedure surely is a handmaid of justice, it said.
Justice N Seshasayee has also insisted that courts should resort to technology whenever possible to make life less cumbersome and more convenient for all concerned. The judge made these observations while exempting an octogenarian accused, facing charges under the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act, from appearing in person before a special court for CBI cases for framing of charges.
The court permitted him to attend the special court proceedings through a video conferencing facility.
The issue pertains to a plea moved by Jacob, seeking direction to the XI additional special judge for CBI cases, Chennai, for conducting the proceedings by video conference and not to insist on his physical presence in the court.
According to the petitioner, he has multiple ailments associated with his age. However, at this ripe age, he is facing the possibility of being charged by the special court. He claimed that the illnesses from which he is suffering include Parkinson's disease. Therefore, he wanted the special court to frame charges through video conferencing in the 17-year-old case.
Opposing the plea, the CBI submitted that the petitioner was shuttling between Bengaluru in Karnataka and Aluva in Kerala but was hesitant to come to court.
The court said once the investigation is over and the final report is taken on record by the court concerned, it becomes the responsibility of the court to frame charges. After all, the framing of charges is part of the procedure, and procedure surely is a handmaid of justice, it said.
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