The Supreme Court has decided to start physical hearing along with virtual hearing on an experimental basis from 15 th day of March, 2021.
The Court has considered the requests received from Bar Associations and after the recommendations of the Hon’ble Judges Committee in this regard, the Chief Justice of India has issued the notice with several direction to begin hybrid hearing (physical as well as virtual) in the apex court amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
The circular issued has passed the directions as follows:
“On an experimental basis, and as a pilot scheme, the final hearing/regular matters listed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays may be heard in the hybrid mode, 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; all other matters, including those listed on Mondays and Fridays shall continue to be heard through video/tele-conferencing mode”
Unless otherwise directed by the Hon’ble Bench, final hearing/ regular matters where the number of Advocates for the parties are more than the average working capacity of the Court rooms, as per Covid-19 norms.
In case of a matter directed to be listed for hybrid hearing by the Hon’ble Bench, if none of the parties opts for physical hearing, the matter would be taken up for hearing through video/tele-conferencing.
It has been directed to all the advocates and staff that wearing of masks, use of hand sanitizer and maintaining physical-distancing norms will be mandatory for all entrants in to the court premises.
Read Circular@LatestLaws.com
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