[BREAKING] Supreme Court to resume physical hearings on non-miscellaneous days from next week

The Supreme Court will resume limited physical hearing from February 14, 2022 in light of the decline in COVID-19 cases.

The decision was taken by the Chief Justice of India, NV Ramana in consultation with a committee of Supreme Court judges.

“In view of 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 Hon’ble the Chief Justice of India, in consultation with the Committee of Hon’ble Judges, has been pleased to direct that the Modified Standard Operating Procedure notified on October 7, 2021 for hearing before the Hon’ble Court shall stand revived, and all hearings before the Hon’ble Court from February 14, 2022 shall be in accordance with the said Modified Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) notified on October 7, 2021,” a circular issued by the top court on Monday said.

As per the October 7, 2021 SOP, virtual hearings will be held only on miscellaneous days (Mondays and Fridays) while cases listed on Wednesdays and Thursdays (non-miscellaneous days) will compulsorily require physical presence of the lawyers and will be heard only in court rooms.

All the matters listed on Tuesday, a non-miscellaneous day, would also be heard in physical mode; however, on prior application by the AOR for the party, appearance through video/tele-conferencing mode will be facilitated.

The AOR desirous of availing such facility of video linkage for hearing on Tuesday, as a non-miscellaneous day, shall have to apply for the same by 1.00 p.m. on the previous working day,

In a matter listed for hearing through physical mode, one advocate-on-record (AOR) or his nominee, one arguing counsel and one junior counsel per party will be allowed entry into the court-room. One registered Clerk per party, as may be chosen by the AOR, shall be allowed to carry paper books/journals etc. up to the court-rooms.

The October 7 SOP had also said that if a Bench is of the view that in a particular matter listed on non-miscellaneous days, the number of counsel are more than the working capacity of the court-room, as per Covid-19 norms, the registry will facilitate hearing of such matters through video/ teleconferencing/ hybrid mode.

[“source=barandbench”]