The Supreme Court judges may recommence sitting in the courtrooms to hear cases from next week, amid the COVID19 pandemic and lockdown.
During a hearing today in the Supreme Court, Justice L Nageswara Rao while hearing a case stated that Video-conferencing will be expanded and will be new norm for Supreme Court: Judges will sit in court rooms from next week while lawyers will argue from their chambers. henceforth in this manner.
The lawyers will argue from their chambers and hearings will be conducted using the VIDYO app, as guided by the rules of social distancing.
This was in response to Solicitor General Tushar Mehta’s query whether the Judges were sitting in a courtroom.
Justice LN Rao also informed that its a pilot project and from next week the judges will be sitting in the courtrooms only.
SG Mehta supported the idea and stated that the idea will ensure that we don’t infect each other.
The Supreme Court has been hearing cases through video conferencing since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent nationwide lockdown on March 24.
According to the Supreme Court’s circular issued earlier, it directed all officers in the ranks of Deputy Registrar and above were required to attend office from May 4, which was later modified directing the remaining staff to continue to work from home on terms and conditions notified earlier.
-India Legal Bureau