NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday decided to drastically limit its functioning from Monday, when it reopens after a week-long Holi break, and set up a limited number of benches to hear only urgent matters to prevent possible spread of coronavirus.

As per the SC causelist for Monday, 15 benches would have heard nearly 750 cases, which would have seen a gathering of nearly 4,000 people, with health implications for judges, lawyers and litigants in view of the spread of coronavirus.

CJI S A Bobde, in consultation with a few judges and medical experts, decided to restrict hearing to only urgent matters by a limited number of benches from March 16. “On reviewing the advisory issued by the government of India and in view of the opinion of public health experts including medical professionals and also considering the safety and welfare of all visitors, litigants, lawyers, court staff, security, maintenance and support staff, student interns and media professionals, the competent authority has directed that the functioning of courts from Monday shall be restricted to urgent matters with such number of benches as may be found appropriate,” a source said.

“It is hereby notified that no persons except lawyers who are going to argue or make oral submissions or to assist, along with one litigant only, shall be permitted in the court room. Mentioning of matters will be made before the mentioning officer only,” the source said.

However, there is no clarity as to which matters will be listed on Monday, which judges will be part of the benches that will take up the urgent matters and how the court will categorise petitions as urgent. Sources said the decision to limit functioning of courts would be reviewed every week in consultation with AIIMS and health experts.

The cutdown will postpone hearing on three important national issues. The jinxed one is the hearing by a nine-judge bench led by CJI Bobde on the faith vs fundamental rights issue arising from petitions seeking review of the SC’s decision to quash a custom barring entry of women in the 10-50 year age group into Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.

Two other important cases will also be affected — validity of CAA and validity of the Union government’s decision to scrap special status for J&K under Article 370 and dividing it into two Union Territories. Both were to be taken up after the nine-judge bench completed hearing on the faith vs fundamental rights issue.



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