New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday (November 19) said that all judges have been asked to allow virtual hearing wherever possible in view of the prevailing severe pollution levels in the national capital region.
CJI Khanna said this after several lawyers, including Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Kapil Sibal, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan referred to the severe pollution levels in Delhi and NCR and sought immediate measures to deal with the alarming situation.
Pollution situation getting out of control, Sibal told CJI-headed bench
Sibal said that the situation was getting out of control and requested the bench to allow lawyers to appear virtually. He further requested the court that the message should go to other courts and Tribunals in the national capital and lawyers be allowed to appear virtually.
“We have told all the judges to allow virtual hearings wherever possible,” CJI Khanna said.
The solicitor general said that the apex court, as a matter of principle, should go online.
“We have given the message to accommodate everybody. Moreover, online is anyway available,” CJI Khanna said.
Apex Court advised its staff to wear masks on Monday
The apex court issued a circular on Monday advising its staff to wear masks and taking preventive health measures in view of the prevailing severe pollution levels in the national capital region.
Severe pollution levels have raised concerns about health risk
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city plummeted to “severe” pollution levels raising concerns about health risk. It has left people gasping for breath and complaining about itchy eyes and sore throats. Some areas in the city recorded a maximum AQI of 500 in the afternoon and Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-IV has been implemented by authorities to check the deteriorating air quality in the city.
Strictly implement GRAP-IV stage, Apex Court directed on Monday
The top court on Monday, while hearing a plea on alarming levels of air pollution in Delhi and NCR, directed all governments in the NCR to strictly implement GRAP-IV stage and to immediately set up teams to enforce GRAP-IV restrictions. It said that the restrictions under GRAP-IV stage will continue even if AQI level falls below 450. It also directed the state governments in the NCR to take an immediate call to stop physical classes of all standards up to class 12.
