New SOP released by SC for commencement of physical hearing on experimental basis from 1 September

New SOP released by SC for commencement of physical hearing on experimental basis from 1 September

A new SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) has been released by the Supreme Court for physical hearing of matters. This would be done on an experimental basis from the beginning of September.

A formal protocol has to be followed by the associates in the Supreme Court –

1. A specific gate has been designed for Advocates/parties-in-person/clerks or other stakeholders issued for physical hearing which will be allowed after the checking of passes and completion of the necessary formalities and the most important thermal and such other scanning checking.

2. After completion of the screening other processes advocates/parties-in-person would proceed to the staging areas/vacant courtrooms and wait for their turn to enter the respective courtrooms where physical hearing of their cases may be scheduled. They will proceed only through the movement corridors created and demarcated for the purpose.

3. The entry and the exit would be from the separate doors. The sanitization of the entrants and all the other things should be compulsorily followed with due diligence and precautions.

4. Social distancing norms, frequent sanitization and wearing of mask has to be strictly followed by all the entrants into the Supreme Court premises, including courtrooms.

5. On completion of hearing of their respective cases particular exit gates have been designated from where the advocates/parties-in-person/clerks, etc. shall move out of the High Security Zone.

6. Separate hearing passes for each case would be issued for the Advocates/parties-in-person having more than one case for physical hearing in the courtrooms.

7.  For the video/tele-conferencing for advocates/parties-in-person, a dedicated VC Facilitation Centre is located in Block ‘C’, Ground Floor of the Supreme Court’s Additional Building Complex, which can be accessed through Gate No.1 of that complex.

The new SOP released has been aware and altered the points accordingly knowing that the total number does not exceed the working capacity of the Court(s) as determined considering the physical distancing norms.

By Nischay Pokhriyal