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- Supreme Court to hear all cases in virtual mode from January 7
- It seems, we will not be able to hear cases through physical mode for next 4-6 weeks, said CJI
- The development comes as the country is witnessing a third Covid wave led by Omicron Edition
Amid a sudden rise in the number of COVID-19 cases, the Supreme Court on Thursday decided to hear all cases in virtual mode from Friday.
According to a circular issued by the apex court administration, from January 7, the benches will sit in residential offices.
“Only urgent ‘mentioned’ cases, fresh cases, bail matters, adjournment matters, detention cases and fixed date matters will be listed before the courts with effect from January 10, 2022 till further orders,” the circular said.
It said the transfer petitions would be listed before regular benches instead of single-judge benches till further orders.
The circular states that till further orders, applications for exemption from surrender will also be listed before regular benches instead of chamber judges.
Hearing a matter on Thursday, Chief Justice NV Ramana, who was heading a bench which also included Justices Surya Kant and Hema Kohli, said, unfortunately, the problem of COVID-19 has started again. .
“Unfortunately, the problem has started again and we are also conscious of it…. It seems, we will not be able to hear the cases in physical mode for the next four to six weeks.”
On January 2, the apex court had decided to conduct all hearings in virtual mode for two weeks starting January 3, in view of the increasing number of cases of the Omron version of COVID-19.
The Supreme Court administration had issued a circular stating that the earlier circular prescribing the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for hybrid hearing will remain suspended for the time being.
“It is notified for the information of the members of the Bar, the Party-in-Person and all concerned that in view of the increasing number of cases of Omicron Variant (COVID-19), the Competent Authority is pleased to direct that Provided that the Revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) notified on October 7, 2021 for physical hearings (hybrid mode) shall remain suspended for the present, and all hearings before courts for a period of two weeks with effect from January 3. Virtual mode only through,” the circular had said.
On October 7 last year, it had issued an SOP saying that matters which require lengthy hearing will be taken up for physical hearing on Wednesday and Thursday.
To avoid overcrowding on miscellaneous days like Monday and Friday, cases were heard only through virtual mode, and on Tuesday it was through hybrid mode.
The apex court has been hearing cases through video-conferencing since March 2020 due to the pandemic.
The October 7, 2021 SOP was issued after several bodies and lawyers sought immediate resumption of physical hearings as there was a decline in coronavirus cases at that time.
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