Coronavirus: SC cancels hearing of urgent matters on Wednesday

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, March 25

The Supreme Court has cancelled hearing of all urgent matters via video conference scheduled to take place on Wednesday in view of a nationwide 21-day complete lockdown announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Take note that in view of complete lockdown throughout the country for 21 days with effect from today i.e. 24.03.2029 (Tuesday) midnight 12.00, the matters listed tomorrow i.e. 25.03.2020 (Wednesday) before the Benches comprising Hon’ble Dr Justice DY Chandrachud and Hon’ble Justice Surya Kant as well as Hon’ble Justice L Nageswara Rao and Hon’ble Justice Aniruddha Bose through video conferencing will not be taken up and the same stands adjourned,” the Supreme Court administration announced late last night.

However, the announcement didn’t mention any future date when these urgent cases would be taken up for hearing.

In an unprecedented measure taken in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Supreme Court had on Monday banned physical entry to its complex and decided to take up urgent matters alone via video conferencing.

Lawyers’ chambers of the top court have already been sealed from 5 pm Tuesday as in-person hearings in the court have been discontinued till further orders.

As the Supreme Court geared to start hearing urgent matters via video conferencing, its administration on Monday notified the modalities for lawyers and litigants to use a special app ‘Vidyo’ for the purpose.

“For the purpose of video-conferencing, the app ‘Vidyo’ may be downloaded on personal desktop/ laptop/mobile device by clicking download link available on http://ecourtvc.nic.in,” a circular issued by the Supreme Court stated. The ‘Vidyo’ app can also be downloaded from Google Play Store for Android phone and from Apple Store for iOS phone, it added.

A trial run of holding hearings via video conferencing was conducted successfully on Monday as the top court suspended entry into the court premises through proximity cards. “We have 6000 licenses for a Video app. Will give you the particular link and you can address us from home,” Chief Justice of India SA Bobde had said.

Two Benches will assemble on Wednesday to take up urgent matters via video conferencing.

The Circular said that “Bench(es) may be constituted to hear only matters involving extreme urgency, to be decided by the Hon’ble Presiding Judge of such Bench(es) on the basis of prayer made by Advocate-on-Record/party-in-person by way of a signed and verified application containing a synopsis of extreme urgency not exceeding one page, similar to urgency affidavit filed during Court Vacation periods.

The application shall be submitted only by e-mail sent to mention.sc@sci.nic.in latest by 2:00 pm on the day preceding the day of the sitting of the Hon’ble Bench, it said.

Only lawyers certified by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) will be allowed into the top court premises for hearing through video conferencing.