<span style="color: #222222;">The Supreme Court heard 593 matters through video-conferencing and delivered judgement in 215 of them in a month during the unprecedented nationwide lockdown.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">As COVID-19 infections spread in the country, the Supreme Court has stopped in court hearings on March 23, two days before the lockdown came into force, but opened up to a virtual new way of functioning, albeit with a reduced strength.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">In normal times, the apex court disposes of nearly 3,500 cases on an average a month. A total of 87 benches heard 593 cases on 17 working days between 23rd of March and 24th of April, according to data provided by the court.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">   </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Though the first phase of the nationwide lockdown for containing the spread of Coronavirus started on 25th of March, the apex court had issued a circular on March 23 restricting entry of advocates and litigants in its premises.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The circular had said that only matters involving extreme urgency would be heard by the top court through video-conferencing during the lockdown, which has now been extended till May 3.</span><br />