SC: Black robe optional, for now

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 13

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced many changes in the functioning of the Indian courts, which have been hearing cases via videoconferencing amid the lockdown to maintain physical distancing to prevent spread of the virus.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court (SC) exempted lawyers from wearing black robe “considering the medical advice as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of coronavirus infection under the prevailing conditions.”

A notification issued by SC Secretary General Sanjeev S Kalgaonkar stated, “Advocates may wear plain white shirt/salwar-kameez/saree with a plain white neckband during the hearings before the Supreme Court through the virtual court system till medical exigencies exist or until further orders.”

Earlier in the day, SC judges sat in an open court without the customary black jacket and gown, possibly for the first time.

Gujarat minister moves SC

New Delhi: Gujarat Minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama on Wednesday moved the Supreme Court challenging the state High Court’s verdict nullifying his 2017 election on the ground of electoral malpractices.

WhatsApp payment

The SC on Wednesday asked WhatsApp, its parent company Facebook, RBI, National Payments Corpn of India and the Centre to respond in three weeks to a plea seeking ban on WhatsApp payment services.