Supreme Court mics: The microphones in the courtroom were found switched off during the Supreme Court hearing on curbs on Delhi trains, Metro and internet ahead of the October 10 protest, prompting counsel to flag it. The Court expressed no view on the merits of the plea.
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New Delhi: The microphones were found to be switched off during a hearing in the Supreme Court on Friday on a plea against alleged restrictions on trains, Metro and internet in Delhi ahead of the October 10 protest, with Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Gopal Sankaranarayanan drawing the Bench’s attention to it and Chief Justice of India Surya Kant responding in the affirmative [Plea against restrictions on Delhi trains, Metro and internet ahead of October 10 protest].
The matter was before a Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Bagchi and Justice Mohana.
The exchange
During the hearing, the microphones in the courtroom were off. Sibal pointed this out:
“Mics are off.”
Sankaranarayanan then asked:
“Why the mics are off, switch it on!”
The CJI responded:
“Yes yes.”
Context
No reason for the microphones being off was stated in the exchange. The hearing concerned the petitioners’ allegations that restrictions on rail, Metro and internet services in Delhi curb the right to assemble and protest, while the Union has defended the measures. Both sides’ contentions are untested and the Court expressed no view on the merits. The Court later recorded that there shall be no complete prohibition on the movement of Metro and trains.
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Case Details: Plea against restrictions on Delhi trains, Metro and internet ahead of the October 10 protest, Supreme Court of India, Bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justice Bagchi and Justice Mohana. Case title and number to be added from the cause list.
Appearances: Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Gopal Sankaranarayanan for the petitioners; Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for the Union.