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Lockdown times: Present and future CJIs finishing judgments, reading books

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Lockdown times: Present and future CJIs finishing judgments, reading books

Dhananjay Mahapatra | TNN | Updated: Mar 26, 2020, 13:06 ISTAA

NEW DELHI: When general public faced Covid-19 lockdown with trepidation, present and future Chief Justices of India innovated to keep themselves busy by writing pending judgments, reading books, trying their hands at kitchen and getting rare family time while quarantining themselves and their skeletal staff.
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How are Judges of the Supreme Court, who devote most of their time at home to read files to prepare for hearings of cases scheduled for next day, are spending their time being mostly home bound since March 16? TOI spoke to CJI Sharad Arvind Bobde and his successors Justices N V Ramana, D Y Chandrachud, B R Gavai andSurya Kant. Only Justice U U Lalit could not be reached.
As head of judiciary, Justice Bobde has to inquire and look into safety of all his colleagues and staff, requiring him to be on tele-conferences with colleague Judges, HC CJs and senior officials of the SC. He lives alone in a sprawling bungalow on Krishna Menon Marg. With a strict ban on entry of visitors, the bustling CJI’s residence wears a deserted look. All Judges have followed suit in banning entry of vistors to their residences.EXPLORE BRIEFS

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Check rumours of shortage of food, essential items: MHA to statesThe Centre asked states to take action to allay apprehensions and maintain peace and tranquillity, and inform people about the availability of food, medicine and other essential commodities. “It is imperative necessary steps are taken to suitably publicise through all available means there are adequate supplies available in the country,” a communication said.ICMR: Isolation may cut peak coronavirus numbers by 89%Strictly implemented social distancing measures such as home quarantine can reduce the overall expected number of cases by 62% and peak number of cases by 89%, thus “flattening” the curve and providing more opportunities for interventions, a mathematical modelling done by the ICMR shows.48 Covid-19 patients recover across India, slight dip in new cases​​​The total number of Covid-19 cases reported from the states so far is 562. Apart from the lower number of fresh cases, there was also some cheer on the recoveries front. As many as 48 coronavirus patients have so far been discharged from hospital after treatment. The rush of new infections slowed a bit to 64 on Tuesday, from 99 the previous day.

Covid-19: Suspension of railway services to be extended till April 14After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of a 21 day lockdown across the country, the Indian Railways on Wednesday announced that its suspension of all passenger services will continue till April 14 in the wake of coronavirus outbreak. However, freight movement will continue to carry essential commodities across the country, officials said.PM Modi announces 21-day nationwide lockdown to combat coronavirusPM Modi on Tuesday announced a complete lockdown across the country for 21 days from Tuesday midnight, asserting that this is necessary for a decisive battle against the coronavirus outbreak. In his second address to the nation on the pandemic, Modi said the decision will have an economic cost but saving people’s lives is of the paramount interest.Identify hospitals to deal with corona cases, Centre asks statesCabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba on Tuesday asked state governments to immediately identify and earmark hospitals to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. In a letter to chief secretaries of all states, Gauba also said it is absolutely essential that surveillance and contact tracing of all positive cases is taken up and no suspected or high risk person is left out.GO TO BRIEFS
CJI Bobde looked at situation-drive positives. “Because of Covid-19 lockdown, we could innovate and hold virtual court. Lawyers argued their cases through vide-conferencing without being in courtroom. Workload has remained the sam. I have to do tele-conferences with officials to determine cases requiring urgent hearing, find out convenience of Judges to set up benches and remain in touch with medical experts to find out additional steps required to be taken for staff and judges to keep them safe while in a state of lockdown,” CJI Bobde said.

“Judges are an innovative lot. They will find something or the other to keep themselves busy constructively,” CJI Bobde said. An avid biker in his lawyer and judgeship days, Justice Bobde as CJI no longer enjoys that freedom. “I do not ride heavy motorbikes anymore. But, I do my routine exercises daily. But, kitchen work is not my cup of tea,” he said.
CJI Bobde’s successor N V Ramana has reduced personal staff at residence by 75% and has even asked the cook to stay home since he used public transport to commute. “My wife and daughter are doing the cooking and I chip in sometimes with cutting vegetables and washing dishes. Never had an opportunity before to work in kitchen. I am enjoying family time after a long gap. The few staff that come to do essential work are advised to keep safe distance from each other and sanitise their hands frequently. I am speaking with old people among my acquaintances and in my village through telephone and video calls and advising them to follow precautions while remaining positive,” Justice Ramana said.
“I am completing pending judicial work. I finished reading Swami Shivananda‘s short stories on Mahabharat. Now reading ‘Sundarakand’ of Ramayan and praying for general good health and prosperity of all human beings. I know many in the scientific community and inquiring from researchers about possibility of an early Covid-19 vaccine,” he said.

Like other judges, Justice Chandrachudtoo is concerned about safety of staff and law clerks with him. Most have been told to keep to confines of their homes. He and his family are doing with skeletal staff. “One of my secretaries is here to help me complete unfinished judgments. Primary focus over last few days was to ensure the Supreme court, a symbol of democracy, is accessible to citizens while protecting safety of staff and every stakeholder,” he said.
How does it feel to be confined to home? “Home seems like home for a change. We are fortunate to always hear chirping of spring birds and appreciate the beauty of spring – the flowers, birds and our organic garden. Spending time with my best friend who is my spouse Kalpana and playing with children – Sanjana and Mahi. I just finished reading Rohit De’s ‘A People’s Constitution’, Abhinav Chandrachud’s ‘Republic of Religion’; Tripurdaman Singh’s ’16 Stormy Days’. Presently reading Dalyrimple’s ‘Anarchy’ and Banerjee and Duflo’s ‘Good Economics for Hard Times’,” he said.
Justice Kant has asked most of his personal staff and entire secretarial staff to stay home. “I use the telephone for dictation. The secretary types it and sends it to me through e-mail. I use this method for all communications except the confidential work. Those among my personal staff, who use public transport to commute, have been told to stay home. I am not required to help out in the kitchen as my wife is a very good cook. She does not want me to mess around in the kitchen. I finished reading Fali S Nariman’s ‘Before Memory Fades” and now reading Chintan Chandrachud’s “The Cases That India Forgot”. I am planning to read memoirs and speeches of jurist L M Singhvi after that,” He said.

Justice Gavai is rediscovering family time. “For the first time in a decade I watched television with my family. I could devote time, for the first time, to play badminton and carrom with my child.” He is a different Judge, who does not hesitate to attend wedding at his PSO’s house, nearly an hours drive from his residence. Naturally, he has asked all his staff, except one or two staying in the nearby quarters, to stay safe in the confines of their homes. “I have also asked our cook to stay home and my wife has taken charge of the cooking. I am reading books of general interest and not related to law,” he said.

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Marriages take a beating due to COVID-19, many in trouble

IANS | Mar 26, 2020, 12:18 ISTAA

Representational ImageTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Apart from the tourism industry that has taken a hit with the arrival of COVID-19, it’s the marriage industry that has also taken a huge toll, as apart from the families, where marriages are to take place, the worst affected are the florists, caterers and event management companies.
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As on date, the total number of coronavirus cases in Kerala is 118 and there are 76,542 people under observation, of which 532 are at various hospitals and the rest at their homes.
Since Monday, Kerala is under lockdown.
While with the Christian community which is observing the Easter lent, during which no marriages take place, but after April 12, Easter day, all the marriages that are fixed after that now is hanging fire, as the present three week lockdown ends on April 14.
But for the Hindu community, numerous marriages have been postponed, while some have been held with the participation of a handful.
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Check rumours of shortage of food, essential items: MHA to statesThe Centre asked states to take action to allay apprehensions and maintain peace and tranquillity, and inform people about the availability of food, medicine and other essential commodities. “It is imperative necessary steps are taken to suitably publicise through all available means there are adequate supplies available in the country,” a communication said.ICMR: Isolation may cut peak coronavirus numbers by 89%Strictly implemented social distancing measures such as home quarantine can reduce the overall expected number of cases by 62% and peak number of cases by 89%, thus “flattening” the curve and providing more opportunities for interventions, a mathematical modelling done by the ICMR shows.48 Covid-19 patients recover across India, slight dip in new cases​​​The total number of Covid-19 cases reported from the states so far is 562. Apart from the lower number of fresh cases, there was also some cheer on the recoveries front. As many as 48 coronavirus patients have so far been discharged from hospital after treatment. The rush of new infections slowed a bit to 64 on Tuesday, from 99 the previous day.Covid-19: Suspension of railway services to be extended till April 14After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s announcement of a 21 day lockdown across the country, the Indian Railways on Wednesday announced that its suspension of all passenger services will continue till April 14 in the wake of coronavirus outbreak. However, freight movement will continue to carry essential commodities across the country, officials said.PM Modi announces 21-day nationwide lockdown to combat coronavirusPM Modi on Tuesday announced a complete lockdown across the country for 21 days from Tuesday midnight, asserting that this is necessary for a decisive battle against the coronavirus outbreak. In his second address to the nation on the pandemic, Modi said the decision will have an economic cost but saving people’s lives is of the paramount interest.Identify hospitals to deal with corona cases, Centre asks statesCabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba on Tuesday asked state governments to immediately identify and earmark hospitals to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. In a letter to chief secretaries of all states, Gauba also said it is absolutely essential that surveillance and contact tracing of all positive cases is taken up and no suspected or high risk person is left out.GO TO BRIEFS

So is the case with the Muslim community, where marriages are generally held in grandiose style.
Incidentally, a glance through any of the frontline vernacular dailies, which have thinned down with no advertisements, there are numerous notices that come in a box wherein it states that so and so marriage that was planned for a particular day, has been postponed indefinitely.
With the government acting tough, by now two Christian priests have been arrested for defying the lockdown order and on Wednesday a case was registered against a former police officer for conducting the marriage of his daughter in violation of the guideline.
With Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also speaking tough, the only relaxation which he said was the earlier fixed permissible number was 5, but that will be slightly relaxed, as 5 is too low a number.
Meanwhile, florists is one section which has been the worst affected as flowers occupy a prime place at wedding halls.
A leading florist in the state capital told IANS that since the last month things have been not that rosy. “The stage now is that with offices closed, marriages postponed and no transport to neighbouring states, the daily produce of flowers and foliages from my farm is cut and destroyed. Things are going to be difficult, as if the farms are not kept alive by tending to the plants now, once the lockdown is lifted, then there will be nothing left there,” said the florist.
Likewise the catering companies are also in a state of shock as a good number of staff of these companies are also in dire straits.
With the style of weddings in the state changing, most people entrust the job to that of event management companies, who do a turnkey job and they too are heading for bad times.
Anwar Pallikkal, president of the Confederation of Event Entertainment Management has now appealed to the state government to come to their rescue.
“More than a lakh people work in this field and the situation is too bad. We want huge help from the government by way of relaxation in taxes, fees besides moratoriums of payments on loans availed,” said Pallikkal.
All in this sector now look forward to April 14, the date when the present three week lockdown ends and are hoping against hope, that there will be no extension.

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