Coronavirus: CJI, SC judges take stock of preparedness in apex court

Chief Justice of India S A Bobde and three judges of the Supreme Court on Tuesday took stock of the preparedness and safety measures adopted in the apex court in wake of the Coronavirus (CIVID-19) pandemic.

The CJI, who was accompanied by Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and L Nageswara Rao interacted with advocates in the apex court corridors about the problem of over crowding and other preparedness.

The judges interacted with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, former additional solicitor general Maninder Singh and discussed about the problem of overcrowding in corridors.

They also discussed the preparedness in apex court premises and the problems faced by advocates due to the restricted entry made by the administration to avoid close contact of people.

Rohatgi showed the gathering of lawyers outside court-3, who all were waiting for hearing in a petition filed by former Shivraj Singh Chauhan in the ongoing Madhya Pradesh political crisis.

He suggested to the judges that to avoid overcrowding of the apex court corridors, it would be appropriate if only urgent matters are taken up for hearing, like it is done by vacation benches.

During the hearing in the Madhya Pradesh matter, Justice D Y Chandrachud had observed on Tuesday that hopefully media persons were not being barred as the case was of public importance.

Mehta told the bench, also comprising Justice Hemant Gupta, that only limited number of media persons are allowed inside the courtroom due to the current restrictions imposed by the administration.

Justice Chandrachud said that these are extraordinary situations and people should cooperate.

Rohatgi, who was also appearing in the matter said in the current scenario not too many benches should sit and it would be appropriate if only two courts function for taking up urgent matters.

The former attorney general said that he had even suggested to the CJI that courts should be closed.