COVID 19 : SC Holds Trial Run Of Video Conferencing For Urgent Hearings

Entering into the lock down phase due to out break of COVID 2019, the Supreme Court has prohibited physical entry of lawyers in the premises and decided to hear only extreme urgent cases through video conferencing.

Its first trial run of case hearing through video conferencing went off successfully in court no 1 on Monday.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice of India ( CJI ) S A Bobde and Justice D Y Chandrachud took up three cases through video conferencing.

A big screen was placed infront of the judges and the sitting arrangement was done for the lawyers at Old Court Masters' room.

No lawyer was present in the court room except few court staff and journalists.

CJI : Can you hear us Mr counsel ?

Counsel: Yes Your lordships

CJI: Wher are you sitting?

Counsel : Old court masters room

CJI: Can you hear us clearly ?

Counsel : Absolutely. 

The lawyers addressed the Court from the designated room in the Old Registrar wing which is installed with Monitors, screens, microphones and cameras. Similar set up is there in the first court of the SC.

In the morning session, CJI led bench has informed the lawyers present in the court that E filing of cases will be done and the lawyers will be provided with an app called 'Vidyo' and the app will be activated for a limited time and the lawyers will be intimated the time for hearing of the case through mails.