JUDICIARY AND LAWYERS STEP UP TO COMBAT SPREAD OF DEADLY COVID-19
After the shutdown of courts due to Corona Virus, entire Judiciary and Lawyers are in a jeopardy. The Corona Scare has moved the world, India is no exception. Though India has fewer cases of the dreaded disease so far, the threat of its spreading is scaring all in a big way. The human to human contact is the main reason for the spread. Since India has a vast population, the fast spread of the disease is not being ruled out.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s timely decision to go for complete closure and isolation will help the country greatly.
In the Supreme Court of India, the scare had started much earlier in last week of February when 5 judges of The Supreme Court (SC) were detected with swine flu. Immediately the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) plunged into action and started a vaccination camp for bar members. The vaccination costing Rs 1200 was given free of cost to the bar members. Donations from lawyers poured in to support the vaccination drive. The Delhi High Bar Association also started a drive of vaccination. The Lawyers community across the country are pouring in donations of all sorts in terms of money, medicines, cost of holding camps and refreshments.
SCBA secretary Ashok Arora said we are taking strict measures to control the situation and help the government to implement the lockdown effectively. We cancelled all the social events including Holi celebrations which are celebrated in a big way. We cancelled all functions, conferences, book releases etc, our main focus was to see the welfare of lawyers. Regarding Covid 19, a meeting was held on 12 March at 7 pm at the residence of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde, Justice Mishra and Justice U.U Lalit, Attorney General K. K. Venugopal, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, President SCBA Dushyant Dave, Secy SCBA Ashok Arora and Secretary SCORA Aristotle Joseph and officials of Ministry of Health & Ministry of Law. The judges would take a call the next day on 13.3.2020 afternoon as to whether to extend Vacation or have limited functioning, Ashok Arora Secy SCBA told LAB News.
After Prime Minister Narender Modi announced full curfew on March 21 and complete closedown of the nation, The Supreme court announced that only matters listed before court one to be taken up on 23.3.2020. later an unscheduled meeting of SCBA officials was held on 24.03.20 with Justices N L Rao, Justice Bose and Justice Suryakant and it was announced —
1) The Supreme Court premises including the Chamber Blocs will be fully shut down with immediate effect. Lawyers were allowed to take their personal belongings till 24.03.2020.
2) Proximity cards are to be cancelled with immediate effect,
4) For any emergency need to enter Court premises, SCBA will be required to certify the Member wishing to enter,
5) The filing counter will be open and can be accessed by Members,
6) E filings should begin shortly,
7) Urgent filing should be accompanied by one-page justification showing urgency,
8) The Presiding Honble Judge will decide the urgency and if declines will hear the concerned Lawyer on phone during specified times only.
9) Hearings will take place without personal presence and only thru Video Conferencing, Skype or similar other means.
10) During the present crisis, Hon’ble Single Judge will hear and decide Bail applications, pending and future, as a temporary measure,
11) Any urgent matter where interim orders are expiring or cost orders are time-bound can be brought to the notice of Registry for urgent listing or extension by the Hon’ble Judges.
12) SCORA will take necessary measures in this regard.
13) SCBA office will operate only partially on a need basis but they can be contacted for any need on the phone.
During the meeting we could gather that the Hon’ble Judges are willing to address all issues being faced by the Bar relating to urgent matters, said Dushyant Dave President SCBA in a press release.
The situation today is that all courts across the country are closed till mid-April. Lawyer associations are taking steps to provide the lawyers who work on day to day basis, who do not have many resources all types of support to cope up with the current situation. Senior lawyers are supporting their juniors with financial and medical help. Lawyers have opened up welfare funds to support junior lawyers who have just entered the profession. We will emerge from this situation very soon, Ashok Arora assured the lawyer community.
