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The Supreme Court Assistant Registrar has informed the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) regarding the recommendation of AIIMS Health Advisory Team to conduct upcoming elections on online platform only, keeping in view the probability of spread of Covid-19 in large congregations.
In a letter dated February 10, Supreme Court Assistant Registrar Srikanth G. Pai informed the SCBA Acting Secretary regarding the recommendation of the Health Advisory Team constituted by AIIMS, to conduct upcoming elections on online platform.
Last month, the AIIMS Health Advisory Team had visited the Supreme Court in order to discuss the matter with the teams of Lawyers and Supreme Court officers, after it had received a letter/communication from the Assistant Registrar of Supreme Court.
In her letter dated January 30, 2021, AIIMS Professor Dr Arti Kapil stated, “In view of the probability of spread of COVID in Large congregations and feasibility of the elections to be conducted on secure online platform, it is desirable that the elections are done on online platform.”
The above recommendation could delay the SCBA elections 2020-2021, which are scheduled to be held on February 27, 2021. The nominations are being filed for the upcoming elections physically by SCBA lawyers and hundreds of lawyers can be seen present physically in the Top Court premises everyday.
It should not be forgotten that a couple of days back only, the Supreme Court Chief Justice allowed Lawyers, Advocates-on-Record and their authorised clerks to have access to the Library, Bar Lounge, Canteens, Supreme Court Registry pursuant to a letter from Senior Advocate Pradeep Rai. Taking into account difficulties faced by lawyers, the Supreme Court had decided to allow access to the Supreme Court registry, to the libraries, bar room and ladies bar lounge on a limited basis.
India Legal spoke to lawyers present in the Supreme Court on their opinion on the above recommendation of the AIIMS Health Advisory Team. On condition of anonymity, a lawyer said, “On February 9, there was a programme in Library 1, where sitting six Judges of the Supreme Court were present along with former Judges and Senior Advocates and members of the Bar altogether. If that recommendation could have come earlier will the scenario be the same? Not only that, the nomination for the SCBA elections are being filed from the same day and it could be seen that a large number of advocates are always present in the premises with their supporters which is not less than 700.”
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