COVID19: CJI Bobde Takes Inspection Round Of SC Corridors To Gauge Situation

After a spate of notifications ensued, declaring restricted hearings in Supreme Court from the week commencing March 16 in order to contain the spread of novel Coronavirus, the Judges walked through the corridors of the Supreme Court to analyse whether measures for containment were working.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi briefed the CJI about the situation and stated that the Supreme Court must follow suit of the Delhi High Court and function in "vacation mode". Apropos this, Rohatgi added that the top court must hold only two benches per day instead of the usual strength of 14. 

Further, Rohatgi added that the purpose of lesser benches assembling, as laid down in the circular dated March 13, 2020 "gets defeated" in light of the phalanx of lawyers, litigants and journalists swarming corridors.

"The Supreme Court must only take up urgent matters, such as those of execution and/or bails and/or demolition" said Rohatgi.

In related news, during proceedings, the Ex-ASG Harin Raval suggested to a bench of Justices DY Chandrachud & Hemant Gupta that all interim orders must be extended by two weeks to avoid advocates rushing to court for extension of interim relief. Justices D Y Chandrachud and Hemant Gupta said that the same shall be conveyed to the Chief Justice for consideration.

After the Supreme Court opened restrictively on March 16, long queues were seen at the entry gate due to the process of thermal screening; persons with high body temperature were denied entry. All entrants were required to sign a declaration regarding their overseas travel, whether they had any signs of a cold or cough and whether they had been in contact with any infected persons.

Amidst the Coronavirus scare and directions issued by the SCBA and SCAORA in pursuance of the advisory circulated by the Health Ministry, the Supreme Court has installed thermal-screening & hand sanitiser stations.

On March 13, another notification had directed that the functioning of Court would be restricted to urgent matters with such number of Benches as may be found appropriate.

Chief Justice of India, SA Bobde had called an urgent meeting at his residence last week to discuss the severity of the problem.