The Bombay High Court has suggested that the state use Skype video calling instead of the more expensive videoconferencing method to reduce costs incurred by the government.

A division bench of Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice AP Bhangale was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Shaikh Abdul Naeem, an accused in the Aurangabad arms haul case, who claimed that he was not being produced in court due to the lack of police personnel to escort him.

Videoconferencing is held using video links when a person is in a remote location and cannot participate in court proceedings. The facility was started to help the government cut down on the costs incurred by them on police escort for prisoners.

However, videoconferencing requires the installation of LCD television sets and other expensive gadgets. The judges said that installing Skype would be less expensive for the government, and they would not incur any additional costs.

“Almost all lower courts have computer facilities. All that you (the government) have to do is install a data connection and then install Skype. In the long run, this will be cheaper than installing LCD sets in each and every court,” said Justice Khanwilkar.

Skype allows you to make free audio and video calls over the internet. He added that Skype is compatible with 3G mobile connections these days and then, “it can be easily used with broadband net connections”.

Directing the government to take advice from the Information Technology secretary on this issue, HC has kept the matter for further hearing on March 14.