Chief Justice of India Surya Kant announced that most High Courts have adopted virtual hearings following his request. This initiative aims to promote fuel conservation and is part of a broader set of measures introduced by the Supreme Court in response to the fuel crisis linked to the US-Iran conflict.

• 01CJI Surya Kant emphasized that the implementation of virtual hearings is a voluntary exercise for both the Bar and the Bench.
• 02High Courts have the authority to decide on virtual hearings for district courts under their administrative control.
• 03The Supreme Court's recent measures include mandatory virtual hearings for certain cases on specific working days.
• 04Physical appearances in court are still allowed in unavoidable circumstances, as clarified by the Supreme Court.
• 05The fuel conservation measures were introduced in light of the West Asia crisis.

The shift to virtual hearings could significantly reduce fuel consumption and travel costs for lawyers and clients, contributing to broader environmental goals.