Supreme Court puts out SOP before resumption of physical hearing from September 1

The Supreme Court has released the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for physical hearing of proceedings, ahead of September 1, when the apex court will resume its offline hearing, albeit partially.

The Secretary General of the Supreme Court issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the same on Saturday.

Timing for the physical hearing will be limited to final/ regular hearing matters on non-miscellaneous days- Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

“With a view to gradually facilitate resumption of physical hearing, 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 a matter as well as the limited capacity of the Court rooms; further, any other matter may be heard in physical mode on such days, if Hon’ble Bench directs likewise. All other matters, including those listed on miscellaneous days shall continue to be heard through video/teleconferencing mode,” 

the SOP said.

Importantly, the SOP said that in any such matter listed for physical hearing (with hybrid option), all counsel appearing for one party can appear either through physical mode or through video/tele-conferencing.

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Advocate(s)-on-Record are required to register themselves on the Supreme Court portal, and submit their preferences for appearing before the Court either through physical mode or through video/teleconferencing mode within 24 hours/ 1:00 PM next day after the publication of the weekly list of final hearing/ regular matters, the SOP said.

Once hearing through physical mode is opted by the AOR/ petitioner-in-person, hearing through video/tele-conferencing mode to the party concerned will not be facilitated.