Supreme Court judges appear in court wearing masks, gloves as cases spike in Delhi

New Delhi: Supreme Court judges sat in court on Tuesday with masks and hand gloves to hear cases in virtual courts leaving nothing to chance as Covid-19 cases spiked in Delhi. The court hinted that virtual courts would continue for now given the threat posed by the virus.

Justice NV Ramana, R Subhash Reddy and Surya Kant, who sat in court-2 on Tuesday, wore masks and gloves, a first in the court. Judges had so far been sitting apart and maintaining social distancing norms but not wearing protective gear. CJI SA Bobde’s court did not sit for some unspecified reasons.

Another bench, comprising Justices R Banumathi and Indu Malhotra, hinted that virtual courts may continue till at least July.


“It’s about life at this time…,” Justice Malhotra told senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi when he expressed the hope that he would meet the bench soon when physical courts resume in July. The judges said the top court building had been sanitised and all precautions were being taken for the protection of court employees and staff.

There’s been a growing clamour among bar associations and lawyers to restore physical courts.