SC agrees to hear challenge to powers of ED concerning PMLA through hybrid mode at request of Kapil Sibal

A bench of Justice Khanwilkar has permitted hybrid mode of hearing in a batch of petitions challenging provision of Prevention of Money Laundering Act at the request of Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, who is appearing for one of the petitioner(s).

This request was made in the light of Supreme Court issuing a modified Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which mandates that all the matters listed on Wednesday and Thursday as non-miscellaneous days will be heard only through physical hearing mode. The SOP further states that in a matter listed for physical hearing the AoR (or his nominee), one arguing counsel and one junior counsel per party will be allowed.

Sibal told the bench that since it is a voluminous matter, he will need the assistance of more than the stipulated number of counsel. The bench accepted the request citing the size of this matter and voluminous pleadings involved in it.

Justice Khanwilkar remarked “We must make a beginning in this case,  however we are not expecting anyone to stretch too much.” Sibal replied to this in jest, saying, “ It is good to stretch in my age Milords.”

The batch of petitions concerns issues relating to Enforcement Directorate's powers for taking on investigations, issuance of summons, carrying out arrests etc. and hear the cases which will affect a number of high profile cases concerning Money Laundering. The matter is to be heard on 25.10.2021 by a bench headed by Justice Khanwilkar.