SCBA Writes To Law Minister For Extension Of Vaccination Programme To Legal Fraternity And For Their Inclusion In "Frontline Workers"

The letter commences by highlighting that government has launched the world's largest vaccination programme and that the same is presently being confined to "defined frontline workers and will extend to others in a phased manner".

Stating that the judicial system is "a sacrosanct limb in the Constitutional scheme, is second to none in rendering service to the people", the letter underlines how the courts have not been functioning to their full capacity due to the restrictions imposed due to the pandemic.

"Restricted audience, absence of examination of witnesses, limited hearing of cases (bar classified urgent causes), malfunctioning of software programmes operating the video system and delays in hearing are leading to a crisis not only for the litigants and lawyers but also to many who draw their sustenance from the courts – small canteen workers, couriers, photostat shops, stationers et al".

In light of the above issues, the letter requests for the present vaccination programme to be extended to all members of the judicial system so as to usher in normalcy at the earliest. It further requests for "Judges, judicial staff and members of the legal fraternity" to be included in the category of frontline workers "so that appropriate remedial measures are taken to prioritise and extend this vaccination programme to this class of our citizenry".

"This will restore faith of the people in the judiciary. Opening court halls and hearings in physical form are of seminal importance".

The letter concludes with this request and informs the Law Minister that taking the aforementioned action would be in larger interests of not only the litigating public, but also in the history of the administration.