{"id":202619,"date":"2021-08-30T17:03:41","date_gmt":"2021-08-30T11:33:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indialegallive.com\/?p=202619"},"modified":"2021-11-16T18:39:29","modified_gmt":"2021-11-16T13:09:29","slug":"scba-writes-to-cji-nv-ramana-seeks-changes-in-sop-on-resumption-of-physical-hearing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.indialegallive.com\/constitutional-law-news\/supreme-court-news\/scba-writes-to-cji-nv-ramana-seeks-changes-in-sop-on-resumption-of-physical-hearing\/","title":{"rendered":"SCBA writes to CJI NV Ramana, seeks changes in SOP for physical hearings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The Supreme Court<\/a> Bar Association (SCBA) on Monday wrote a letter to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice N. V. Ramana, requesting him to make some changes in the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) released by the Secretary General\u00a0of Supreme Court<\/a> on Saturday, for resumption of physical hearing of proceedings from September 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SCBA President Vikas Singh suggested in the letter that the restrictions related to entering the high-security area of the apex court should be lifted, as the Supreme Court<\/a> has a distinct architecture, where the lawyers move from one court to another in a spacious, non Air-Conditioned area, having almost nil chances of infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The area has a large number of bar rooms, libraries and canteens, where the lawyers can sit, while following the Covid-19 protocol. Further, the high-security area has large, airy corridors, where the lawyers wait for matters, said Mr Singh. The SOP prohibits the entry of lawyers to this area without carrying special passes, which will dissuade the advocates from applying for physical hearing, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Our clear suggestion is that entry to the high-security area should be permitted by the use of a proximity card and the waiting areas would be the libraries and the lounges, where lawyers will wait on their own after observing covid protocol. If those areas were to get full, then the lawyers can easily wait in the corridor, which is like being in an open space where minimal restrictions are required. The system of issuing special passes should be dispensed with in the SOP,” said Mr Singh.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Regarding the number of people being limited to 20 in every courtroom, the SCBA said it is arbitrary as the size of the courtroom differs substantially. The number of persons permitted to enter the courtroom should be based on the size of a courtroom and the number of 20 can be justified only in the smallest courtrooms. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Also Read:<\/strong> Supreme Court directs AIIMS to permit petitioner to participate in counselling for DM cardiology seat<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Moreover, the discretion given to a Judge to adjourn the matter last minute if the number in a particular matter increases more to than 20 people is also unjustified, as this will disrupt a lot of hearings in the court. A decision on such matters should be taken before listing the same. As the matters involving PILs where all States are parties and matters involving a large number of respondents are known to the Registry in advance, they may be listed only through the virtual mode for some time till the full physical hearing is resumed, mentioned the letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n