Only a few takers for physical hearing in Supreme Court

The Supreme Court resumed limited physical hearings on Wednesday, but most lawyers opted to appear in court virtually. The top court is functioning in a hybrid mode from Tuesday to Thursday. On Mondays and Fridays, the miscellaneous days on which courts hear fresh cases, the court will continue to function virtually.

The top court had shut down limited physical hearings in March after a few judges and court staff turned Covid-19 positive during the second wave of the pandemic. A standard operating procedure issued by the top court recently said that the virtual option would not be available for those lawyers who choose to appear in court in person, possibly to eliminate technical glitches in the process.

Lawyers will have to exercise their choice on the court portal within 24 hours of a case being listed for a hearing. Entry would be on special daily passes and the maximum number of advocates who can appear in a case would be restricted to 20.


If it exceeds that number, the bench hearing the case can exercise its discretion on whether to have physical hearings or switch to a virtual mode at the last minute.