The Supreme Court of India has modified Standard Operating Procedure for physical hearing (with hybrid option).
The Supreme Court of India, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic had started virtual hearing. But with the passage of time, when the cases were declining the requests received from the Bar Associations, and on recommendations of the Hon’ble Judges Committee in that regard, the Supreme Court started hybrid hearing.
The directions issued by the Supreme Court are as follows:
- In view of the encouraging response from the Bar and with a view to further facilitate hearing through physical mode, all the matters listed on Wednesday and Thursday, as non-miscellaneous days, would be heard only in physical presence of the counsels/parties in Court-rooms.
- All the matters listed on Tuesday, as a non-miscellaneous day, would also be heard in physical mode, however, on prior application by the AOR for the party, appearance through video/tele-conferencing mode will be facilitated. The AOR desirous of availing such facility of video linkage for hearing on Tuesday, as a non-miscellaneous day, shall have to apply for the same by 1.00 p.m. on the previous working day, on email id vc.request@sci.nic.in.
- Unless and otherwise directed by Hon’ble Court/Bench, all matters, irrespective of their nature, listed on miscellaneous days shall continue to be heard through video/tele-conferencing mode till further orders.
- There may be break(s) for a period of about 15 minutes at the discretion of the Hon’ble Bench during the hearings in Court-room in physical mode so that Court-room may be sanitized, for which it is necessary that the entire Court-room be vacated.
- Ld. Counsels awaiting their hearing(s), may wait in the designated waiting areas or Bar Lounges/Libraries and may avoid crowding in the corridors.
The aforesaid modified SOP will come into effect from 20th October, 2021.
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