<p>The suspense over the decision on bar bodies' including SCBA's demand to resume regular courtroom proceedings in the Supreme Court is likely to continue for the time being as a three-judge panel headed by seniormost judge Justice N V Ramana postponed its June 5 meeting with bar leaders to review the functioning of courts in view of COVID-19.</p>.<p>The high-powered committee, also including Justices Arun Mishra and U U Lalit, had the meeting scheduled with the bar leaders on June 5 at Judges' Guest House here to “review the functioning of the Supreme Court in the light of surging pandemic due to COVID-19 cases in NCT Delhi and adjoining area”.</p>.<p>Sources said now a few more judges are likely to be included in the existing three-judge panel to decide the crucial issue of resumption of regular courtroom hearings in place of proceedings through video-conferencing, which are going on since March 25 when the COVID-19-induced lockdown was imposed.</p>.<p>They said the decision on the review meeting is likely to be taken soon.</p>.<p>The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) led by its president Dushyant Dave had written to member lawyers on June 4 seeking their views on resumption of regular courtroom proceedings for apprising the judges' panel of its views.</p>.<p>Favouring resumption of open courts, Dave had also said, “Administration of justice cannot remain virtually closed for an indefinite period”.</p>.<p>BCI (Bar Council of India), SCBA and SCAORA (Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association) have been demanding resumption of physical courtroom hearings.</p>.<p>SCBA said there was an “existential question” and without the court's functioning, lawyers, except a privileged few, are in dire need “for the court to start to give them a chance to work and livelihood".</p>.<p>Bar bodies also said the virtual court system was not working well in favour of many lawyers, who either did not have access to the technology or were not well-versed with it. </p>
<p>The suspense over the decision on bar bodies' including SCBA's demand to resume regular courtroom proceedings in the Supreme Court is likely to continue for the time being as a three-judge panel headed by seniormost judge Justice N V Ramana postponed its June 5 meeting with bar leaders to review the functioning of courts in view of COVID-19.</p>.<p>The high-powered committee, also including Justices Arun Mishra and U U Lalit, had the meeting scheduled with the bar leaders on June 5 at Judges' Guest House here to “review the functioning of the Supreme Court in the light of surging pandemic due to COVID-19 cases in NCT Delhi and adjoining area”.</p>.<p>Sources said now a few more judges are likely to be included in the existing three-judge panel to decide the crucial issue of resumption of regular courtroom hearings in place of proceedings through video-conferencing, which are going on since March 25 when the COVID-19-induced lockdown was imposed.</p>.<p>They said the decision on the review meeting is likely to be taken soon.</p>.<p>The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) led by its president Dushyant Dave had written to member lawyers on June 4 seeking their views on resumption of regular courtroom proceedings for apprising the judges' panel of its views.</p>.<p>Favouring resumption of open courts, Dave had also said, “Administration of justice cannot remain virtually closed for an indefinite period”.</p>.<p>BCI (Bar Council of India), SCBA and SCAORA (Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association) have been demanding resumption of physical courtroom hearings.</p>.<p>SCBA said there was an “existential question” and without the court's functioning, lawyers, except a privileged few, are in dire need “for the court to start to give them a chance to work and livelihood".</p>.<p>Bar bodies also said the virtual court system was not working well in favour of many lawyers, who either did not have access to the technology or were not well-versed with it. </p>