The Supreme Court today disposed of the petition filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) challenging the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) put in place for the hybrid system of hearings at the apex court. the Bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and R Subhash Reddy opined that little can be done on the judicial side and the matter should be tended to by the administrative side of the Court.

counsel appearing for various parties asked the Court to reconsider its order. Senior Advocate Mahalakshmi Pavani appearing for SCBA told the Court that the SCBA President was not part of the consultations that led to the finalisation of the SOP. Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra pointed out the lack of facilities for hybrid hearings in trial courts. 

The Court observed that issues will also be dealt with by the administrative side of the Delhi High Court. It was also contended that if virtual hearings are allowed to continue permanently. This petition effectively supported the hybrid hearing SOP issued by the apex court and sought continuance of the same so that lawyers and litigants from far-off places will be able to appear before the Supreme Court without coming to Delhi.
