Video conferencing between Punjab jails, courts

Chandigarh: Punjab would soon introduce video-conferencing facility between various jails in the state and courts in those areas, a minister said here on Tuesday.

The move follows the assent to an amendment in the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) by the President of India under which people in judicial custody could be produced before the courts either in person or through the medium of video linkage.

Punjab Minister for Jails and Justice Hira Singh Gabria said here on Tuesday that the move to have video-conferencing facility will save time and resources for the police as they will not be required to transport under-trials to courts for every hearing.

"We have been sent a communication by the central government saying that the President has given her assent to the amendment that will enable the video-conferencing facility to be used between jails and courts. This will save money and time for the police and make judicial system more efficient," he said.

The video-conferencing facility would shortly start between the jails and the courts, reports IANS quoting Gabria.

The Punjab assembly had in December last year passed the bill for the amendment of the CrPC and it had been sent for presidential assent.