44 staffers test +ve, SC to hold court via video

◗ THE DELHI high court, which had resumed fullfledged physical hearing from March 15, decided to again adopted the virtual mode of proceedings from April 9 to April 23, in view of alarming rise in Covid19 cases in Delhi

With 44 Supreme Court staffers out of over 3,000 testing positive for the Covid-19 infection in the past one week, the judges on Monday decided to hold the court through videoconferencing from their residences — a setback for hybrid hearing that the top court had started in March. As a consequence the hearing today was rescheduled with courts that were to assemble at 10.30 am assembled at 11.30 am and the courts that were to assemble at 11.00 am assembled at 12.00 noon.

With 44 Supreme Court staffers out of over 3,000 testing positive for the coronavirus infection in the past one week, the Judges on Monday decided to hold the court through video-conferencing from their residences – a setback for hybrid hearing that the top court had started in March after a gap of nearly one year.

As a consequence the hearing today was rescheduled with courts that were to assemble at 10.30 A.M. assembled at 11.30 A.M. and the courts that were to assemble at 11.00 A.M. assembled at 12.00 noon.

The physical mentioning of the matters before the mentioning registrar too has been suspended. However, the mentioning of the matters for urgent hearing or listing through video-conferencing will continue. The entire court premises including the court rooms were sanitized.

While everything appeared to be in retreat, the top court officials said that the situation was not alarming.

Three judges of the Delhi high court have tested Covid-19 positive and are isolating at their residences, according to court sources.

The three judges, who were having mild symptoms, received their test reports on Sunday, sources said, adding that they did not conduct the court on Monday.

They said another judge is also suffering from fever, but the test report is yet to come out.

Meanwhile, the Delhi high court bar association has decided to close its office at the high court premises keeping in view the rising number of Covid-19 cases.

The Delhi high court, which had resumed fullfledged physical hearing from March 15, decided to again adopted the virtual mode of proceedings from April 9 to April 23, in view of alarming rise in Covid-19 cases in the national capital.