New Delhi: Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the Supreme Court has decided to do away with jackets and long gowns for judges and lawyers during hearings via video conferencing.
A formal notification in this regard was issued by the apex court on Wednesday, which for the first time saw judges sitting in an open court without the customary black jacket and gown.
Chief Justice of India SA Bobde had then said that instructions would be issued asking lawyers and judges not to put on robes or gowns to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Instructions would soon be issued by which judges and lawyers will be exempted from donning gowns,” the CJI told Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who was surprised to see all the three judges on the Bench, including the CJI, simply wearing white shirts and bands.
Explaining the reason, the CJI said that judges have been told novel coronavirus gets attached to gowns and robes.
The lawyers have been allowed to argue from their chambers, to keep the infection at bay.
