Supreme Court To Reinitiate Hybrid Hearing From February 14 In Wake Of Decline In Covid Cases

On October 7, 2021, the Supreme Court reinstated the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), initiating a hybrid hearing of the cases, ANI reported.

Supreme Court Of India. (Getty Images)

New Delhi: Due to a large decrease in Covid-19 cases, the Supreme Court issued a circular saying that it will resume hybrid hearings on February 14.

On October 7, 2021, the Supreme Court reinstated the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), initiating a hybrid hearing of the cases, ANI reported.

On October 7, the Supreme Court issued an SoP for hybrid hearings, which states that all cases on Wednesday and Thursday would be heard solely in the actual presence of counsels/parties in courtrooms, while hybrid mode will be permitted on the other days.

"In view of a significant decline in the number of Covid-19 cases and positivity rate, and in the light of the various instructions issued by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority, Government of NCT of Delhi vide Order dated February 4, 2022, the Chief Justice of India, in consultation with the Committee of Judges, has been pleased to direct that the Modified Standard Operating Procedure notified on October 7, 2021, for hearing before the Court shall stand revived, and all hearings before the Court from February 14, 2022, shall be in accordance with the said Modified Standard Operating Procedure notified on October 7, 2021," the circular issued on Monday was quoted by ANI in its report.

According to the circular dated October 7, the issues scheduled for Tuesday, a non-miscellaneous day, will likewise be heard in physical mode.

However, on previous applications by the AOR for the party, presence through video/teleconferencing mode will be enabled.

According to the SOP, three attorneys each party will be permitted inside courtrooms, while clerks will be permitted to take paperwork up to courts.

"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 the physical presence of the counsels/parties in courtrooms," the statement had said.

It had said that during physical proceedings in the courtroom, there may be a 15-minute pause at the discretion of the Bench so that the courthouse may be sanitised, for which the whole courtroom must be evacuated.

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) wrote to Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Saturday, encouraging him to resume physical hearings in the Supreme Court while adhering strictly to Covid-19 norms and behaving appropriately.

In a letter to the CJI, SCBA President and senior counsel Vikas Singh stated that the top court should be opened in physical form because the epidemic in the nation has been under control for the previous two weeks.

According to the letter, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has agreed to reopen schools, universities, and gyms in Delhi on February 7, and offices are now permitted to operate at full capacity.

In light of the escalating Omicron variant of Covid-19 cases, the Supreme Court resolved on January 2, 2022, to switch to a virtual hearing system beginning January 3.

The Supreme Court opted to postpone the physical and hybrid hearing options for two weeks in order to conduct the entire hearing virtually.

(With ANI Inputs)