As Delhi grapples with severe air pollution, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has announced that courts in the Delhi and NCR region will operate in a hybrid mode, allowing both physical and virtual appearances. This decision aligns with requests from Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, Supreme Court Bar Association President Kapil Sibal, and Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who had urged for completely virtual court operations due to the high pollution levels that have necessitated the implementation of GRAP-IV measures.
During a court session, Kapil Sibal highlighted the escalating pollution issue, calling for immediate action to enable lawyers to work remotely. CJI Khanna responded by saying, “We have told all judges here, wherever possible, to allow virtual appearances,” indicating that while complete virtual operation was not granted, significant flexibility would be maintained.
Gopal Sankaranarayanan pointed out the daily influx of about 10,000 lawyers and their clerks to the courts, emphasizing the environmental impact of their commute. In response, CJI Khanna emphasized that the judiciary would accommodate the needs of all parties involved. “You have the option to appear virtually, and we encourage you to use it as needed,” he stated.
Reiterating the court’s adaptive approach, CJI Khanna added, “We will function in hybrid mode, accommodating both physical and virtual presences to ensure the judiciary’s accessibility and responsiveness during these challenging times.”
Further underscoring the judiciary’s commitment to health and safety, the Supreme Court has issued a directive for everyone to wear masks and confirmed that GRAP-IV restrictions will remain in place, irrespective of minor improvements in the Air Quality Index, which must stay below 450. These measures aim to mitigate the health risks associated with the current environmental crisis while maintaining judicial operations.
