CJI PERMITS VIRTUAL HEARINGS, RULES OUT FULL ONLINE SHIFT

However, CJI did not allow top court to go fully online, affirms lawyers' option to appear virtually.

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Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday said all judges have been asked to allow virtual hearings wherever possible in view of the severe pollution levels in the national capital region. As soon as the bench comprising the CJI and Justice Sanjay Kumar assembled, lawyers, including Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Kapil Sibal, referred to the worsening pollution in Delhi and NCR and sought immediate measures to deal with it.

"We have told all the judges to allow virtual hearings wherever possible," the CJI said.

The CJI, however, did not allow the submissions that the top court should go online and reiterated that the lawyers have the option to appear online.

Sibal said "a message is needed to be sent to other courts and tribunals in the national capital in this regard as the pollution is getting out of control."

He was supported by various lawyers that also included Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Gopal Sankaranarayanan.

The solicitor general said the top court, as a matter of principle, should go virtual.