Supreme Court to begin physical hearing on experimental basis from 1 Sept, releases SOP

August 31: Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, the Supreme Court of India had temporarily suspended physical hearings keeping in mind the safety measures. However, demands were from the Bar Associations since the last month for resuming of physical hearings. It is in the backdrop that the apex court has released a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for beginning physical hearing on an experimental basis from 1 September.

The SOP stated, “In continuation of directions already notified regarding functioning of the Supreme Court of India, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, more particularly through Circulars dated 14.03.2020 and 23.03.2020, and on consideration of the requests received from the Bar Associations, the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India has been pleased to direct as follows:

• On an experimental basis, and as a pilot scheme, physical hearing of matters may initially commence in three Court-rooms; eventually, number of matters or the number of Court-rooms may be increased or reduced, as the situation may warrant or permit;
• Despite consent by the Ld. Advocates/Parties-in-Person, only such number of Counsels/parties may be permitted to appear during physical hearing inside Courtrooms, so that the total number does not exceed the working capacity of the Court(s) as determined considering the physical distancing norms;
• It may be noted that wearing of mask, frequent use of hand sanitizer and maintaining physical distancing norms is mandatory for all entrants into the Supreme Court premises, including Court-rooms;
• On completion of hearing of their respective case, the Ld. Advocates/Parties-in-Person/Clerks, etc. shall move out of the High Security Zone through the movement corridor and exit from the designated gates;
• Ld. Advocates/Parties-in-Person having more than one case for physical hearing in the Court Rooms shall be issued separate Special Hearing Pass for each case and after hearing of one case is complete, they may wait in the designated staging/waiting area(s) for the purpose for appearing for the next hearing(s).

Click Here to read the full SOP