Chief Justice of India Shri Justice N V Ramana has directed that the proceedings of the Supreme Court of India be switched to physical mode with hybrid option with effect from 01 September, 2021.
This is a step in the direction of facilitating resumption of physical hearing, subject to evolving situation vis-à-vis COVID-19 pandemic. The direction of the CJI follows requests received from the Bar Associations and is based on the recommendations of the concerned Committee of Hon’ble Judges.
The Registry of the Supreme Court has issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) this morning in this regard. As per the latest SOP, those appearing before the Court in the final hearing/regular matters listed on non-miscellaneous days will have the option of being heard in the physical mode.
Any other matter may also be heard in physical mode on non-miscellaneous days if Hon’ble Bench directs likewise. Unless otherwise directed by the Hon’ble Bench, final hearing/regular matters where the number of Advocates for the parties are more than 20 (approx.) per Courtroom at any given time, will be listed for hearing through video/tele-conferencing mode. All other matters, including those listed on miscellaneous days will continue to be heard through video/tele-conferencing mode. In matters listed for physical hearing with option to opt for VC mode, all the Counsels appearing for a party can appear either through physical mode or through video/tele-conferencing.
Advocate(s)-on-Record are required to register themselves on the SCI portal and submit their preferences for appearing before the Hon’ble Court either through physical mode or through video/tele-conferencing mode. They will have to mandatorily exercise this option within 24 hours / by 1 PM next day, as the case may be,after the publication of the Weekly List of Final Hearing/Regular Matters. If opted for physical hearing, one AOR or his nominee, one Arguing Counsel and one Junior Counsel per party will be allowed entry. One registered Clerk, chosen by AOR per party, will also be allowed entry to carry paper-books/journals etc. of the Counsels upto the Court-rooms. Once hearing through physical mode is opted for by the AOR/petitioner-in-person, hearing through video/tele-conferencing mode to the party concerned can not be facilitated.
The Entry of the counsels/parties into the High Security Zone (HSZ) to appear for physical hearing will be regulated through daily “Special Hearing Passes” (SHPs) which will be issued by the Registry, on the basis of authorization by the concerned Advocate-on-Record on the official web portal of Hon’ble Supreme Court. All the stakeholders are expected to mandatorily adhere to COVID appropriate behaviour such as wearing of mask, frequent use of hand sanitizer and maintaining physical distancing.
It may be recalled that in the wake of the very first country-wide lock down imposed in the month of March, 2020 to prevent the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, the Hon’ble Supreme Court, in a phased manner gradually migrated to the Video Conferencing Mode to ensure that the wheels of justice continue to be on the move.