The effect of deadly air in Delhi NCR is now visible on the functioning of the Supreme Court of the country. In view of the dangerous levels of pollution and worsening weather patterns, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant has given a big relief and advice to the lawyers and litigants. He has suggested that in view of the current situation, if possible, lawyers and parties should plead their cases through ‘hybrid mode’ (video conferencing) instead of being physically present in the court.
An official circular in this regard was issued by the Supreme Court administration on Sunday. It said, “In view of the prevailing weather conditions (pollution and cold), the Chief Justice of India has advised that, if convenient, members of the Bar and parties appearing in person should avail the hybrid mode through video conferencing facility in their cases listed in the courts. This move is an indication that the judiciary is also not untouched by the toxic air of Delhi and from judges to lawyers, the health of everyone is being given priority.” Is.
Breathing problem: AQI crossed 461
- This advice of CJI has come at a time when Delhi’s air has reached ‘severe’ category. Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 461 on Sunday. This is considered to be the most polluted day of this winter and the second worst December day on record.
- According to the Meteorological Department and the Pollution Control Board, due to slow winds and low temperatures, the pollutants have become trapped close to the ground surface, due to which the entire Delhi has turned into a gas chamber. Forget going out, it is now becoming difficult to breathe even inside the house.
Statistics game and alarm bells
As per the standards of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a scale has been decided to understand the air quality:
0-50: Good
51-100: Satisfactory
101-200: Moderate
201-300: Poor
301-400: Very Poor
401-500: Severe
Sunday’s figure of 461 is also at the upper level of the ‘severe’ category, which is harmful even for healthy people and can prove fatal for sick people. Health experts have warned that prolonged exposure to such toxic air can lead to serious health risks, including lung infections, asthma and heart disease.
When CJI himself expressed his pain
The severity of pollution can be gauged from the fact that even the Chief Justice himself has not been able to escape its effects. During a hearing on November 26, when the possibility of shifting the Supreme Court proceedings completely to ‘virtual mode’ was being considered, the CJI had shared a personal experience.
At the beginning of the hearing on the petitions challenging the special revision of voter lists in states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal, the CJI had said that the day before, when he had gone for an hour-long morning walk, he had felt unwell. His comment shows that Delhi’s pollution has now turned even the fresh morning air into poison.
Justice Narasimha also gave advice
This is not the first time that a Supreme Court judge has advocated virtual hearing due to pollution. Earlier on November 13, Supreme Court judge Justice P.S. Narasimha had also advised lawyers to appear virtually instead of coming to court in person in view of the hazardous air quality in Delhi-NCR. He had expressed concern about the health of lawyers.
What is hybrid mode?
At present, the Supreme Court works through ‘hybrid mode’. This is a system in which court proceedings are conducted both physically and virtually. Lawyers can choose as per their convenience whether they want to come to the court room to argue or connect through video conferencing from their office/home.
CJI Surya Kant’s latest advice means that lawyers are now being encouraged to use this digital option as much as possible, so that they do not have to face pollution on the roads of Delhi. This advice will not only protect the health of the lawyers, but can also contribute to reducing pollution a bit by reducing the movement of vehicles on the roads. However, this step of the Supreme Court is welcome, but it also points to the dire situation in Delhi where breathing has now become a struggle.
