Impact of PM Modi’s Appeal: Supreme Court to Hold Virtual Hearings on Two Days; Judges to Also Carpool

New Delhi. Following an appeal by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Supreme Court issued a new circular on Friday regarding its operations. This circular introduces significant changes to the manner in which court hearings are conducted and how employees work. This decision was taken in response to a directive from the Central Government and has been implemented with immediate effect.

According to the Supreme Court’s circular, hearings on Mondays, Fridays, and other days designated as “Miscellaneous Days” will henceforth be conducted exclusively via video conferencing. Furthermore, hearings on days designated as “partial working days” for the Court will also be held online. The Court administration has been directed to ensure that video conferencing links are dispatched in a timely manner and that technical infrastructure remains robust to prevent any inconvenience to participants.

Supreme Court Judges to Also Carpool
The judges of the Supreme Court have also decided to promote carpooling among themselves in an effort to conserve fuel. This means that, as per requirements, judges will now travel together in the same vehicle. The circular also outlines key decisions regarding Court employees. As per the order, up to 50 percent of the staff in every branch and section of the Supreme Court have been granted permission to work from home for two days a week. However, the remaining employees are required to be physically present at the office to ensure that the Court’s work remains unaffected.

Employees Granted ‘Work from Home’ Permission
The order further clarifies that employees granted permission to work from home must remain available on their phones at all times and must report to the office immediately if required. Officials have also been instructed to ensure that all essential tasks are completed in a timely manner. If a particular branch has a high operational workload and working from home is deemed unsuitable, the concerned Registrar retains the authority to modify or restrict the ‘work from home’ arrangement within that specific branch. This circular was issued by the Secretary General of the Supreme Court, Bharat Parashar.