Supreme Court To Resume Physical Hearing From Sept 1, Issues Fresh SOP

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued a fresh SOP after it announced that it will resume the final hearing of cases in physical mode from September 1. 

A hybrid option will be implemented from Tuesday to Thursday in order to strictly observe covid protocols, the top court said.

As the pandemic took over in March last year, the apex court had adopted the use of video conferencing mode for hearing cases.

The SOP also stated that miscellaneous cases would be heard by the court on Mondays and Fridays through virtual mode. The SOP was issued by the Secretary-General of the Supreme Court during the weekend. 

The SOP further says that wearing masks, frequent use of hand sanitisers and maintaining physical distancing norms are mandatory for all entrants into the Supreme Court premises, including into the Courtrooms. Further, the procedures mandated that once litigants and the lawyers opt for the hearing by means of physical mode then hearing through video/teleconferencing mode to the party concerned will not be facilitated.

The Chief Justice of India N V Ramana, on whose direction the SOP was issued, had taken into consideration the recommendations of the Judges' Committee previously set up to consider representations and requests of bar bodies to enable the hearing through physical mode keeping in mind the financial and technical difficulties being faced by many lawyers. To facilitate smooth functioning of the resumption of physical hearing mode, 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 the matter as well as the limited capacity of the courtrooms. In addition, any other matter may be heard in the physical mode on such days, if the Bench directs likewise.

All other matters, including those listed on miscellaneous days, shall continue to be heard through video/teleconferencing mode, the SOP read.

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