Breaking: [COVID-19] SC To Continue Hearing Extremely Urgent Matters During Lockdown Via Alternative Apps To Obviate "Unforeseen" Interruptions [Read Circular]

The Supreme Court has issued a circular today stating that the top court shall continue to hear matters involving extreme urgency during the nationwide lockdown. The Circular further seeks to clarify steps for conducting VC hearing(s) as laid down in its earlier notification, released on March 23,2020.

The circular states,

"The Supreme Court of India shall continue to function and to hear matters involving extreme urgency, till further orders in this regard."

In light of the above, the following clarifications have been effectuated for smooth VC hearings:-

1) AOR/Party in person to first file petition or miscellaneous application through e-filing;

2) In order to obviate the inconvenience that may be faced due to unforeseen linkage issue of the 'Vidyo'

video-conferencing. The AOR/Party in person are also permitted to mention alternative video-conferencing details wherein hearing may be conducted via Whatsapp, Skype or Facetime. Details in this regard are to be mentioned in the mentioning application itself;

3) AORs/Parties-in-persons are advised to refrain from exercising the option of participating in the hearing through VC link facility available at the SC premises for the present.

The apex court further calls for "co-operation from all concerned to enable us to ensure optimum safety" in these "extraordinary circumstances"