‘Hybrid mode’: SC says cases at admission stage to be heard virtually

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, February 4

Amid lawyers’ protest for resumption of full physical hearing, the Supreme Court on Thursday indicated that it will go for ‘hybrid mode’ in which cases at the admission stage would be heard virtually and physical hearing would take place thereafter.

Maintaining that the ‘hybrid mode’ of hearing was beneficial to lawyers and litigants, a Bench led by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul pointed out that might have to travel long distances to appear before the Supreme Court in a physical hearing only to see their cases dismissed.

Justice Kaul – who was Chief Justice of the Madras High Court before being elevated to the top court – said, “The dual method of hearing eases access to justice. I was there in the South and I know how difficult it is to spend on travel and appear in distant courts. Success rate at admission stage is 20%… At that (admission) stage it can be through virtual mode.”

Justice Kaul’s comment – that came during hearing on a petition filed by Facebook India chief Ajit Mohan challenging the summons issued to him by Delhi Assembly’s Peace and Harmony Committee with regard to 2020 Delhi riots. The hearing remained inconclusive and would resume on February 9.

Functioning only in the virtual mode since March last year, the Supreme Court was in the process of shifting to physical hearing in a hybrid manner as the health hazards posed by COVID-19 pandemic were not completely ruled out.

On Thursday, lawyers and clerks were allowed to have access to the top court’s library, bar lounge, canteens, Registry and chambers from February 8.

Amid protest by several advocates demanding resumption of full physical hearing in the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of India SA Bobde had on Monday told the bar leaders that physical hearing in ‘hybrid mode’ was on the cards.

The issue was discussed in a meeting the CJI had with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, bar leaders including Mishra, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) office bearers, Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association leaders and senior advocate and former SCBA president Vikas Singh on Monday.

However, a section of lawyers led by former Supreme Court Bar Association President Vikas Singh are demanding full-fledged physical hearing.