COVID-19: Supreme Court heard 593 cases and delivered 215 judgments during lockdown

Following the unprecedented nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19, the Supreme Court shut its doors to litigants and lawyers on March 23. However the Court continued to function with a virtual way of functioning, albeit with a reduced strength.

During the on-going lockdown, the Supreme Court heard 593 matters via video-conferencing and delivered judgements in 215 of them in a month. In normal times, the Supreme Court disposes off nearly 3,500 cases on an average per month.

Urgent matters have been taken by two or three benches in virtual courtrooms on a daily basis whereas in normal times, there are 16 benches hearing cases. As per the data from the Supreme Court, a total of 87 benches heard 593 cases on 17 working days between Match 23 and April 24.

The Apex Court issued a circular on March 23 restricting entry of advocates and litigants in its premises to contain the spread of the novel Coronavirus, although the first phase of the nationwide lockdown started only on March 25.

According to the data released by the Court, the Apex Court had disposed of 84 review petitions as on April 24 and that out of 87 benches, 34 heard main matters while 53 benches took up review petitions for adjudication.

The data further stated that 390 main matters, along with 203 connected cases, were heard during this period. Further according to the data, verdicts were delivered in 215 cases, out of which 174 were connected matters.