SC ISSUES SOPS FOR RESUMPTION OF PHYSICAL HEARING FROM WEDNESDAY

NEW DELHI: Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court had been hearing matters since March last year through video conferencing, however, it will resume its physical hearings with the opening of a hybrid option from September 1 and asked the lawyers to select between virtual and physical hearings, according to a Supreme Court’s notification.

The physical hearings are to be conducted in adherence with the Standard Operating Procedures while conducting the physical hearing, further stated the notification. “With a view to gradually facilitate the resumption of the 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 Bench, considering the number of parties in a matter as well as the limited capacity of the Courtrooms,” said the notification.

All other matters, including those listed on miscellaneous days, shall continue to be heard through video/teleconferencing mode. At the discretion of the Bench, there may be a break(s) during the hearings in Courtroom in physical mode, for a period of about 15 minutes, so that Courtroom may be sanitized, during which it is necessary that the entire Courtroom be vacated, said the notification.

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) has passed a number of directions with regard to starting physical hearings in a restricted manner clubbing with strictly adhering to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) with respect to Covid-19 protocols, further stated the notification.

The CJI passed the order after he was being requested and received many letters from the Bar Associations, lawyers, and on recommendations of the Judges Committee to start physical hearings in a restricted manner, as per the notification.