Severe Delhi Pollution: CJI Khanna Rules Out Fully Virtual Courts, Prefers Hybrid Mode

New Delhi: Amid the extremely severe air quality in Delhi, some senior lawyers had proposed a full online shift of Supreme Court proceedings. But Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday turned down their request.

CJI Khanna stressed on the importance of hybrid hearings in courts, allowing lawyers to appear online while also maintaining physical court proceedings.

He said judges have been told to conduct virtual hearings wherever possible, and lawyers can choose to appear online.

Among the those who made a case for a shift to complete online mode in all courts were Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, senior advocate and President of Supreme Court Bar Association Kapil Sibal and senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan.

Sibal argued that air pollution in the national Capital was “getting out of control”, hence courts be allowed to function online.

CJI Khanna said: “We have told all judges here, wherever possible allow virtual.”

On Sibal’s question about message being sent to other courts in Delhi, the CJI said that lawyers will have the option of an online hearing.

Advocate Sankaranarayanan pointed out that around 10,000 lawyers come to the court daily in their vehicles, and some of their clerks also use personal vehicles for commute.

“We will leave it to the lawyers concerned… we have given them that facility, whenever you want to appear virtually, you can,” the CJI replied.

Air quality index (AQI) in Delhi has been recorded in ‘severe plus’ category for the second straight day on Tuesday.

Curbs under Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stage 4 have been implemented in Delhi from Monday. The Supreme Court ordered GRAP 4 measures in all NCR states, directing that curbs must be in place even if AQI drops below 400.