What Happened
- The Supreme Court has permitted lawyers to appear through video conferencing from 16 to 20 February 2026 if they face difficulty appearing in person due to anticipated traffic congestion.
- The congestion is expected around the Bharat Mandapam venue in New Delhi, where the India AI Impact Summit 2026 is scheduled with delegates from over 100 countries.
- The video conferencing facility is optional, and all benches will function in hybrid mode during this period.
- The order was passed after a request was brought to the Court's notice regarding anticipated disruptions in the area around Pragati Maidan.
Static Topic Bridges
E-Courts Project and Judicial Digitization in India
The e-Courts project is a Mission Mode Project under the National e-Governance Plan, implemented under the guidance of the e-Committee of the Supreme Court of India and the Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice. Launched in 2007, it has progressed through three phases, with Phase III approved by the Union Cabinet with a financial outlay of Rs 7,210 crore spanning four years from 2023.
- Phase I (2007-2015): Computerization of district courts, installation of hardware and LAN
- Phase II (2015-2023): Connectivity of courts through WAN, video conferencing in 3,240 court complexes and 1,272 jails, over 3.93 crore hearings conducted via video conferencing
- Phase III (2023 onwards): Rs 7,210 crore outlay; aims for digital, online, and paperless courts through digitization of all court records including legacy records
- Phase III key components: Universal e-filing, e-Sewa Kendras in all court complexes, cloud-based repository, AI and Optical Character Recognition for case analysis
- Budget 2026-27 allocation for e-Courts Phase III: Rs 1,200 crore
- Model Rules for Video Conferencing framed by a 5-judge committee and adopted by all 25 High Courts
- Legal sanctity for video conferencing hearings established by the Supreme Court's overarching order of 6 April 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic
Connection to this news: The Supreme Court's direction for hybrid hearings during the AI summit week demonstrates how video conferencing infrastructure, built up under the e-Courts project, has become a practical tool for ensuring continuity of judicial proceedings during disruptions.
India AI Impact Summit 2026
The India AI Impact Summit is an international summit on artificial intelligence scheduled at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, from 16 to 20 February 2026. Organized by MeitY with the Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) as custodian, it is being described as the first global AI summit hosted in the Global South. It follows the AI Safety Summit series initiated at Bletchley Park, UK (November 2023) and continued at Seoul, South Korea (May 2024), and Paris, France (February 2025).
- Venue: Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi (inaugurated July 2023; hosted G20 Summit in September 2023)
- Delegates from over 100 countries; representation at heads of government and ministerial levels
- Over 300 exhibitors from 30 countries across 10+ thematic pavilions (AI Impact Expo)
- Over 400 pre-events organized before the summit
- Proposed themes: Democratization of AI, AI for Social Impact, Safe and Trustworthy AI, AI for the Global South
- Expected to yield at least 15 deliverables, culminating in a Leaders' Declaration
- UN Secretary-General confirmed attendance
- India's positioning: Shifting global AI debate from safety-focused regulation to impact-driven deployment and development outcomes
Connection to this news: The scale of the AI Impact Summit, with delegates from 100+ countries and its proximity to the Supreme Court complex, necessitated the Court's proactive decision to enable virtual hearings, highlighting both the summit's significance and the judiciary's digital readiness.
Bharat Mandapam — India's Premier Convention Facility
Bharat Mandapam is one of India's largest convention and exhibition centres, located within the redeveloped India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO) complex at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. The centre was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 26 July 2023 and first hosted the G20 New Delhi Summit on 9-10 September 2023.
- Total built-up area: 3,90,000 sq. metres; exhibition area: 1,50,000 sq. metres
- Meeting hall capacity: 7,000 people in a single format; six modern exhibition halls
- Built on 123 acres with a budget of Rs 2,700 crore
- Located at the site of the former Hall of Nations at Pragati Maidan
- ITPO (India Trade Promotion Organisation) operates under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
- Previous major events: G20 Summit (September 2023), World Book Fair, various international trade fairs
- State-of-the-art facilities including convention centre, exhibition halls, and amphitheatre
Connection to this news: The Supreme Court's video conferencing order was specifically triggered by the anticipated traffic disruptions around Bharat Mandapam, where the AI Impact Summit's large international presence is expected to cause significant congestion in central Delhi.
Key Facts & Data
- AI Impact Summit dates: 16-20 February 2026
- Venue: Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi
- Participating countries: 100+; exhibitors: 300+ from 30 countries
- Supreme Court video conferencing: optional; all benches in hybrid mode during Feb 16-20
- e-Courts Phase III outlay: Rs 7,210 crore (4-year period from 2023)
- Video conferencing infrastructure: 3,240 court complexes, 1,272 jails connected
- Total VC hearings conducted: over 3.93 crore
- SC video conferencing rules: Legal sanctity established on 6 April 2020