SCAORA Suggests Measures For Restricted Court Functioning Due To COVID19 Pandemic

The Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association passed a resolution on Saturday urging the Court to declare at least two weeks vacation in view of the COVID 19 pandemic.

In the alternative, the lawyers' body made the following suggestions :

1. Filing of matters be completely stopped except urgent matters pertaining to death warrant, bail/custody and habeas corpus petitions.

2. The bench of Hon'ble Judges be constituted only when imminently required and as and when the said urgent matters are entertained

3. In lieu of the loss of court hours, the summer vacation may be curtailed in the month of May and if necessary the Hon'ble Courts may function on few Saturdays accordingly.

4. The entry to entire SC premises be restricted only to Advocates and clerks associated with urgent matters.

5. All High Courts be requested to issue directives to the authorities within their territorial jurisdictions not to carry out demolitions or auction properties until further orders.

6. Order be issued for continuation of all interim orders until further orders.

7. The period for depositing cost in terms of orders of the Court and other statutory deposits be extended, so as to avoid the unnecessary risk of filing the SLP under urgent matters.

8. Any order for compliance or penalties being imposed by the concerned High Court if within the period limitation be treated as stayed automatically so as to avoid the unnecessary risk of filing the SLP under urgent matters.

9. For the purpose of limitation the period commencing from 23.03.2020 be treated as holidays till further orders.

That the aforesaid restrictions to apply initially for the next two weeks.

The SCAORA also made the following appeal to the members :

 a. To not to crowd in any particular place in the Supreme Court premises.

b. To cooperate as entry to entire SC premises will be restricted only to Advocates and one clerk each associated with the listed urgent matters

c. To abstain from unnecessary filing of matters or entering the court premises until and unless there is extreme urgency.

d. Further, any member/Advocate or his/her staff or clerk who may have symptoms of cough, fever, sore throat, running nose or difficulty in breathing may self restrain themselves.