SC to continue with virtual court hearings

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, July 25

The Supreme has decided to continue with virtual court hearings for the time being in view of medical experts’ advice aimed at checking spread of COVID19 pandemic.

A seven-judge panel of the Supreme Court conveyed the decision against resumption of physical court to bar leaders in a meeting on Friday.

Headed by Justice NV Ramana, the judges’ panel has decided not to open the Supreme Court for physical hearings for the time being as per advice of medical experts, bar leaders were told.

Other members of the judges’ panel are Justices Arun Mishra, Rohington Nariman, UU Lalit, A M Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and LN Rao.

“It was also decided by their lordships to meet the representatives of the Bar after two weeks and then to restart the working of the court in a phased manner,” Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Dushyant Dave wrote to SCBA members.

Besides Dave, other bar leaders who met the judges’ panel were Bar Council of India (BCI) Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra and Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) President Shivaji Jadhav.

The top court has been holding virtual courts through video conferencing since March 25 following announcement of a nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19.

But even after lifting of lockdown, it decided to continue with the virtual court hearings till further orders.

BCI, SCBA and SCAORA have been demanding resumption of physical court hearings.

However, the judges’ panel had in the second week of June decided against it in view of COVID19 situation.

Ruling out the possibility of physical court proceedings for the time being due COVID19 pandemic, the CJI had on Wednesday said a seven-judge panel will review the situation.