<p>Supreme Court Bar Association on Monday filed a plea in the top court for quashing the Standard Operating Procedure issued on March 5 for hybrid hearing without due consultation with the lawyers body.</p>.<p>In a writ petition, it said a written suggestion given by SCBA president Vikas Singh on March 2 for resumption of physical hearing has not been considered by the top court.</p>.<p>"Bar is an equal stakeholder in the dispensation of the justice delivery system and the suggestions given by it ought to have been taken into consideration. There is general feeling in the Bar that for the last few years Registry has been issuing Circulars without taking it into confidence even though such orders issued directly affect the lawyers practicing before this court," their plea said.</p>.<p>In a circular issued on March 5, the Secretary General of the Supreme Court said that Chief Justice of India S A Bobde has issued directions on commencement of hearings in the apex court from March 15 in hybrid mode.</p>.<p>While proximity cards remained suspended, entry of lawyers would be allowed through special passes and wearing of mask, frequent use of hand sanitiser and maintaining physical distancing norms was made mandatory for all entrants into the Supreme Court premises, including into the courtrooms, during this period.</p>.<p>The lawyers body was aggrieved with absence of oral mentioning for urgent hearing and muting and unmuting of lawyers in virtual hearing, being conducted for last one year so, due to Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>"Judges have a sterile route to and from the court room and there are glass partitions which separate the judges from the lawyers and litigants. So basically it is the lawyers and litigants who would be at some risk if at all so the SoP dated 05.03.2021 ought to have been issued after consulting the Bar, which had already written for the resumption of physical hearing," their plea stated.</p>
<p>Supreme Court Bar Association on Monday filed a plea in the top court for quashing the Standard Operating Procedure issued on March 5 for hybrid hearing without due consultation with the lawyers body.</p>.<p>In a writ petition, it said a written suggestion given by SCBA president Vikas Singh on March 2 for resumption of physical hearing has not been considered by the top court.</p>.<p>"Bar is an equal stakeholder in the dispensation of the justice delivery system and the suggestions given by it ought to have been taken into consideration. There is general feeling in the Bar that for the last few years Registry has been issuing Circulars without taking it into confidence even though such orders issued directly affect the lawyers practicing before this court," their plea said.</p>.<p>In a circular issued on March 5, the Secretary General of the Supreme Court said that Chief Justice of India S A Bobde has issued directions on commencement of hearings in the apex court from March 15 in hybrid mode.</p>.<p>While proximity cards remained suspended, entry of lawyers would be allowed through special passes and wearing of mask, frequent use of hand sanitiser and maintaining physical distancing norms was made mandatory for all entrants into the Supreme Court premises, including into the courtrooms, during this period.</p>.<p>The lawyers body was aggrieved with absence of oral mentioning for urgent hearing and muting and unmuting of lawyers in virtual hearing, being conducted for last one year so, due to Covid-19 pandemic.</p>.<p>"Judges have a sterile route to and from the court room and there are glass partitions which separate the judges from the lawyers and litigants. So basically it is the lawyers and litigants who would be at some risk if at all so the SoP dated 05.03.2021 ought to have been issued after consulting the Bar, which had already written for the resumption of physical hearing," their plea stated.</p>
