Supreme Court to start virtual hearings twice a week amid PM Modi’s appeal to save fuel

The Supreme Court will start conducting hearings through video conference on Mondays and Fridays, amid Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to save fuel due to economic fallout of the West Asia crisis. The Court also said it will adopt a hybrid mode of hearing cases from Tuesdays to Thursdays every week.

According to a detailed circular issued by Supreme Court Secretary General Bharat Parashar, the new measures have come into immediate effect following an Office Memorandum issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

The Supreme Court will arrange hearings exclusively online on Mondays and Fridays, and lawyers and litigants will have the option of either appearing physically or virtually, for the hearings on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The circular said “Matters listed on miscellaneous days (i.e. on Mondays, Fridays, or such other days as declared to be miscellaneous), and matters listed during the Court’s partial working days, shall be heard by video-conferencing only. The Registry shall ensure that links for the video-conferencing are sent in a timely manner, maintain stable video-conferencing facilities and extend timely technical assistance so as to avoid any inconvenience to the Hon’ble Court.”

The Court further stated that judges had “unanimously resolved” to promote car-pooling among themselves to ensure optimum fuel utilisation. It also allowed up to 50% of staff in each Registry branch or section to work from home for up to two days a week, provided weekly rosters are prepared and the Court’s functioning remains uninterrupted.

The Court added that Registry officials may restrict or revise the work-from-home arrangement in branches where physical presence is necessary due to the nature of work. The decision came soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to cut fuel consumption amid rising global crude oil prices triggered by tensions in West Asia.