The HC added that petitions seeking similar reliefs before another division bench are yet to be disposed and the petitioner can join the petitioners there.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Friday told the Bombay High Court that as a temporary arrangement during the Covid-19 pandemic, it will provide facilities for hearing appeals filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act through virtual platforms to appellants.

The BMC filed its response to a division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Surendra P Tavade, which was hearing a PIL filed by advocate Mayur Faria, who had sought directions to the BMC for online hearing of RTI appeals, while contending that the civic body was asking appellants to physically appear and argue before the competent authority.

The HC on July 31 had directed BMC to consider video conference facilities to hear such appeals.