Judges panel rules out possibility of physical hearing in Supreme Court for time being

A committee of seven Supreme Court judges has apprised bar leaders of its decision to t open apex court for physical hearings "for time being" and would meet m again after two weeks to reconsider issue.

apex court, since March 25, has been holding courts through video conferencing due to a nationwide lockdown and even after restrictions were relaxed, it has decided to continue with hearing through virtual courts.

panel headed by senior-most judge after CJI, justice N V Ramana, met Bar Council Chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra, Supreme Court Bar Association President Dushyant Dave and Shivaji Jadhav, president of Supreme Court Advocates on Records Association, Friday to apprise m of its decision to t resume physical hearings.

"At outset, Secretary General (of Supreme Court) read out minutes of meeting of committee (of judges) which had taken place earlier in which it was decided, inter-alia, t to open Supreme Court for physical hearings for time being as per advice of medical experts.

"It was also decided by ir lordships to meet representatives of Bar after two weeks and n to restart working of court in a phased manner," Dave wrote to lawyers about meeting.

Dave and Jadhav told judges' panel that y were clear about starting of physical hearings as soon as possible, while continuing with virtual court hearings with improved system for limited types of matters.

"We both impressed upon Hon'ble Judges need to restart in interests of Justice, litigants, lawyers and ir clerks and assured that without in any manner compromising with well being of all stakeholders such working can be resumed," Dave said in letter.

committee assured that secretary general and registrars will start a dialogue to categorise matters for final hearing and related issues, he said.

Justices Ramana, Arun Mishra, Rohinton Nariman, U U Lalit, A M Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and L N Rao are part of committee set up by CJI to look into issue of resumption of physical hearing in top court again.

Recently, a bench headed by CJI had ruled out possibility of conducting physical hearings in view of COVID-19 pandemic and had said a seven-judge panel would review situation.

CJI's observation came when a lawyer sought resumption of physical court hearing to deal with a batch of petitions relating to grant of quota in promotions to SC/ST employees in various states.

In June, committee of judges had t agreed to demands of bar bodies including SCBA to resume regular courtroom hearings for time being and would review functioning of Supreme Court later.

(Photo Credit: PTI)