6 SC judges down with swine flu, Sabarimala hearing among 'affected' cases

CJI Bobde has discussed setting up a dispensary in the SC complex on an urgent basis

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The Supreme Court is faced with a peculiar situation, with as many as six justices calling in sick, all suffering from swine flu.

Chief Justice of India S.A. Bobde held a meeting on Tuesday morning to discuss the issues arising out of the absence of the six judges and the preventive measures that need to be taken. Revealing this in court on Tuesday, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said that he has suggested vaccination of all those working in the Supreme Court against flu.

It is learnt that Chief Justice Bobde has discussed the setting up of a dispensary in the Supreme Court complex on an urgent basis as also vaccination measures to be taken to prevent spread of swine flu, which is caused by the H1N1 virus.

Two Constitution benches, one of them being the nine-judge bench hearing the Sabarimala matter, have been affected because of the judges taking ill. A hearing of the Sabarimala bench was cancelled last week after Justice R. Banumathi fell ill. She had earlier collapsed in court while delivering a judgement in a plea in the Nirbhaya case. The hearing by a Constitution bench was cancelled on Tuesday because of the absence of Justice Indira Banerjee, who is learnt to be among the judges who have taken ill.

Perhaps as a precautionary measure, Justice Sanjiv Khanna came to the court on Tuesday wearing a mask. The issue found a mention when senior advocate Aryama Sundaram told Justice Arun Mishra during a hearing that he was not feeling well. Justice Mishra said to him that in that case, he should avoid coming to court. “It is a request to everyone here, don't come to court if you are not feeling well,” Justice Mishra said.