Supreme Court Goes Virtual Twice A Week
The Supreme Court has decided to conduct hearings fully through video conference on Mondays and Fridays, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to reduce fuel consumption amid rising crude oil concerns linked to the West Asia crisis.
Supreme Court Virtual Hearings On Mondays And Fridays
Under the revised arrangement, all Supreme Court hearings on Mondays and Fridays will be held exclusively online. The move is aimed at reducing travel by lawyers, litigants, court staff and others connected with court functioning.
The decision marks a significant operational shift for the country’s top court, which had earlier expanded virtual access during the Covid-19 period and later moved to a hybrid hearing model.
Hybrid Court Hearings From Tuesday To Thursday
The Supreme Court will continue with hybrid hearings from Tuesday to Thursday every week. On these days, lawyers and litigants will have the option of appearing either physically in court or through video conference.
The arrangement is expected to maintain access to justice while reducing unnecessary movement during the fuel conservation push. It also gives advocates flexibility in choosing how they appear before the court.
Judges Encourage Carpooling And Work From Home
The judges have also unanimously resolved to encourage carpooling among themselves to ensure optimum fuel use. The Supreme Court Registry has permitted up to 50% staff in each branch or section to work from home for up to two days a week.
The work-from-home system will be based on weekly rosters and will be subject to uninterrupted court functioning. Registry officials may modify the arrangement depending on work requirements.
