#Coronavirus; Judiciary too takes a call! SC mulls shutting down, sealing court premises

New Delhi, March 23: #Coronavirus; Making preparations for hearing of matters through video conferencing for the first time in the history of Indian judiciary, the Supreme Court on Monday said that it was mulling over shutting down its functioning and considering to hear urgent matters through virtual means. "All lawyers' chambers in and around the apex court premises would be sealed", it ordered amid the rising corona chaos in India.

 

 

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde noted that the apex court administration would temporarily cancel all proximity cards to dissuade lawyers from coming to the court. The bench, also comprising justices L N Rao and Surya Kant, said only Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Dushyant Dave could authorise lawyers to enter the top court premises for urgent reasons.

 

"There would be no gathering of lawyers on the court premises till further orders", CJI said adding that he would take a call on Monday itself on a possible shut down or to advance the summer vacations, as demanded by the lawyers' organisations. The issue of shutting down the apex court's functioning was raised by the SCBA president and the members of the Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

 

Following the SC's decision, the Kerala High Court also said that it would remain closed till 8th April in the wake of #Coronavirus. "Sittings will be held on Tuesdays and Fridays to consider emergency cases. Cases which affect individual freedom, Habeas corpus petitions and bail pleas will be considered only on these days", the statement read. Also the Delhi High Court announced to remain shut from today evening till March 31, in view of Coronavirus outbreak.

 

As revealed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) this morning, the total number of positive Coronavirus cases in India has turned out to be 415. The government on Sunday announced lockdown in 75 districts. With multiple new positive cases reported from various parts of the country, India's death toll is at 7.