In view of the worsening air quality of Delhi, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday permitted the judges to conduct the Supreme Court proceedings in a virtual mode.
However, the CJI refused to give a definite statement regarding the functioning of the Courts being conducted only online.
A request for the same was made by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, sought permission for the lawyers to be allowed to appear online, stating that Delhi’s air pollution was getting out of control.
The CJI said that the Court has given the facility to both judges and lawyers to appear virtually. They may avail the facility, whenever they want to.
Sibal requested that the other Courts/Tribunals in Delhi also be sent the same message.
Sankaranarayanan said that around 10,000 lawyers came to the Court daily in their vehicles, apart from their clerks, who also used personal vehicles often. The restrictions under GRAP-IV have been implemented in the city, he added.
SG Mehta said that in principle, the Apex Court can itself go online, instead of options.
However, the CJI said that the lawyers had the option of online appearance.
The Supreme Court had issued a circular on Monday, advising everyone to wear masks. On the judicial side, the Court issued a direction that the GRAP-IV restrictions would continue, even if the Air Quality Index of Delhi fell below 450.
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