Social distancing is duty, not discretion during pandemic: SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court (SC) has institutionalised video-conferencing during lockdown period and said every individual and institution must implement measures designed by Health Authorities and Governments to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

While providing modalities for use of video-conferencing facilities for hearing of urgent cases and even recording of evidence, a bench of CJI S.A. Bobde, Justices L. Nageswara Rao and D.Y. Chandrachud said, “Faced with the unprecedented and extraordinary outbreak of a pandemic, it is necessary that Courts at all levels respond to the call of social distancing and ensure that Court premises do not contribute to the spread of the virus. This is not a matter of discretion but duty.”