SC ISSUES SOPS FOR RESUMPTION OF PHYSICAL HEARING FROM WEDNESDAY

NEW DELHI : The Supreme Court issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) for resuming physical hearing only for the final hearing of cases beginning September 1 for three days in a week, 17 months after the courts shut down in March 2020 and took up cases through a videoconferencing due to Covid-19 pandemic.

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be followed in this regard was made public on Sunday by the Supreme Court. The circular issued by Supreme Court Secretary-general on Friday said, “With a view to gradually facilitate resumption of physical hearing, the final hearing/regular matters listed on non-miscellaneous days may be heard in the physical mode (with hybrid option), as may be decided by the Hon’ble Bench, considering the number of parties in a matter as well as the limited capacity of the Court rooms. Further, any other matter may be heard in physical mode on such days, if Hon’ble Bench directs likewise.”

The option of physical hearing is being provided only for final hearing or regular matters on non-miscellaneous days (Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday) while the matters listed on miscellaneous days (Mondays and Fridays) will strictly be through the videoconferencing app Vidyo.

In keeping with the Covid-19 protocol, the lawyers who intend to appear for physical hearing have to intimate the Registry of the Supreme Court in advance.

With the vaccination of lawyers progressing at a steady pace and both Supreme Court Bar Association and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-record Association (SCAORA), the two main associations of lawyers practising at the Supreme Court coming forward with demands to resume physical hearing of cases, the Chief Justice of India, NV Ramana agreed to consider the issue and held discussions with the two bar associations this month. SCBA has not taken a formal decision yet on the SOPS. An SCBA official confirmed that the association is yet to examine the SOP.