SC too declares complete lockdown after PM's call

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a three week nationwide lockdown, the Supreme Court too declared an indefinite complete lockdown, also cancelling hearing of urgent matters even through video conferencing.

In notice issued late in the night, the apex court said: "Take notice that in view of complete lock down throughout the country for 21 days with effect from today midnight 12, the matters listed for tomorrow March 25, before the benches comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud and Surya Kant as well as Justices L Nageswara Rao and Aniruddha Bose through video conferencing will not be taken up and the same stand adjourned."

The Supreme Court had on Monday decided to shut regular courts and Tuesday onwards decided to hear only "extreme urgent matter" through video conferencing.

According to a circular issued by the apex court, the benches would be constituted to hear only matters involving extreme urgency, which will be decided by the presiding Judge of the bench on the basis of prayer made by Advocate-on-Record (AoR)/party-in person by way of a signed and verified application containing a synopsis of extreme urgency not exceeding one page, similar to urgency affidavit filed during Court vacation periods.

This application had to be submitted only by e-mail sent to mention.sc@sci.nic.in, latest by 2 p.m. on the day preceding the day of the sitting of the bench.