15 SC judges test positive for Covid-19

The 2nd wave of coronavirus has hit the Supreme Court severely as 15 Supreme Court judges have tested positive for COVID-19 with at least one being hospitalised. Earlier, a number of court officials had also tested positive for the virus.

New Delhi: In a major development, around 15 Supreme Court judges have been found COVID-19 positive with at least one being hospitalised. With the rapid rise in cases, the apex court has also been hit by the second wave severely where a large number of officials tested positive. The staff of Justice MR Shah, Justice Indira Bannerjee and Justice Surya Kant has tested positive.

After so many cases, the court had issued a circular earlier this week saying that it will take up only urgent cases and some benches were also cancelled. Only 4 benches consisting of 11 judges are sitting today and very few cases are listed.

Chambers for lawyers were also reopened, hybrid hearing was allowed but now the system has come to a halt and the court is back to where it was last year during the first wave. Judges have been hearing cases from their residences and new guidelines were issued by the court making RT PCR test mandatory for people showing symptoms.

All the judges were vaccinated around a month back and for advocates and staff also names were being registered for the vaccine.

Sitting CJI SA Bobde is set to retire on 23rd April and the next CJI NV Ramana will take charge on 24th April.