“On an experimental basis, and as a pilot scheme, the final hearing / regular cases listed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday can be heard in hybrid mode.”
The Supreme Court, which has been hearing cases through video-conferencing since March last year due to the COVID-19 epidemic, will begin hybrid physical hearings from March 15.
The top court has issued the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the hybrid physical hearing.
The apex court has been hearing cases through video-conferencing since March last year due to epidemics and multiple times bodies, and lawyers are demanding that physical hearings should be resumed immediately.
“On an experimental basis, and as a pilot scheme, the final hearings / regular cases listed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday can be heard in hybrid mode, as may be decided by the bench, the number of parties in a case Given. Along with the limited capacity of the court, all other cases listed on Monday and Friday will continue to be heard through video / tele-conferencing mode, “said the SOP issued by the apex court.
He said, “The hybrid physical hearing is scheduled to begin on March 15, 2021.”
This is stated unless directed by a bench, a final hearing or a regular case where the number of attorneys for the parties exceeds the average working capacity of the courts according to COVID-19 criteria, which at any time 20 Per court room, listening through video or tele-conferencing mode will always be listed.
“However, if the bench in the case directs the hearing of such cases to be conducted through hybrid mode, the presence of the parties, whether through physical presence or video / tele-conferencing, will be facilitated as per the instructions of the bench. , “Said the SOP.
It states that if the number of parties in a case listed for a hybrid hearing exceeds the specified number, then one attorney-on-record (AOR) and one arguing attorney per party will be allowed entry.
It states that one registered clerk per party, as may be selected by the AOR, will be allowed entry to the courts to carry paper-books or lawyers’ journals.
“In any such case that can be listed for a hybrid hearing, all counsel appearing for one party may appear through physical presence or video / tele-conferencing,” it said.
The SOP said that AOR should submit its preferences to appear in court either physically or via video or tele-conferencing mode within 24 hours or by 1 pm the next day of the final hearing or publication of the weekly list of regular cases. Can.
“If a party does not opt for a lawyer-on-record mode or physical or video / tele-conferencing mode, it shall be presumed that the consuls for the party wish to appear through the video / tele-conferencing mode and They will be facilitated accordingly, ”it said.
“In case the case is directed to be listed for hybrid hearing by the bench, neither party opposes the physical hearing, the matter will be taken up for hearing through video / tele-conferencing,” S.O.P. he said.
It added that entry into the high-security zone of the top court through proximity cards or long-term passes would be suspended until further orders.
“Admission of councils / parties or other such stakeholders will be through daily ‘Special Hearing Pass’ to be produced inside the court for the hybrid hearing, which will be issued on the basis of authorization by the concerned advocate on record by the Registry.”
The SOP said, subject to the capacity of a court, the entry of parties into a case would not be allowed 10 minutes before the hearing of the case.
“It may be noted that wearing masks, repeated use of hand sanitizer and maintaining physical-safety norms is mandatory for all people entering the Supreme Court premises, including the court-court,” he said.
“Advocates / Counsel with more than one case for hybrid hearing in court will be issued separate special hearing passes for each case and after completion of hearing of a case, they will be waiting in the designated staging / waiting area (s) Can aim to appear for the next hearing, “it said.
The SOP said that in order to facilitate video or tele-conferencing for the advocates, there is a dedicated Vice Chancellor Facilitation Center in the building complex in addition to the apex court.
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