Covid-"Hearing Of Cases Only Through VC": Allahabad HC Issues 'Modalities & Arrangement' For Functioning of Lucknow Bench During COVID

In view of the recent spike in COVID-19 cases, the Allahabad High Court on Tuesday (06th April) issued the Modalities & Arrangement (related to the functioning of High Court during COVID-19) which would be effective w.e.f. 07th April 2021 till 09th April 2021. The Hearing of cases shall be conducted only through video-conferencing w.e.f. 07th April 2021 till 09th April 2021 and the Counsels shall not be permitted to enter in the Court Rooms & Corridors on 7th, 8th & 9th April 2021. The VC link messages will be sent to the Counsels in sequence as per the Cause List, accordingly, the Counsel will receive the SMS as per the sequence of his/her case. The notification issued by the High Court also states that Video-conferencing facility shall also be made available in the V-C Cabins situated in the Mediation Centre. However, not more than 2 (two) counsel shall be allowed to remain inside the V-C cabins at a time and all the protocol related to COVID-19 (social distancing and wearing masks) shall have to be strictly followed inside the V-C cabins. It may be noted that a Video Conferencing link shall be sent only on the mobile number registered in the AOR. Furthermore, the System Manager/High Court staff will provide the required technical assistance to the learned Advocates/Litigants-in-person, as and when required at the onsite facility. Last week, the High Court had notified that it would function with minimum strength and till further orders, only the special Benches constituted shall remain operational (both at Lucknow and Prayagraj) and regular Courts won't be sitting from April 5 to April 9. In related news, owing to the sudden surge in COVID-19 cases, the Chhattisgarh High Court on Monday (05th April) issued an official order directing that Judicial Proceedings of the High Court shall be conducted only through video conferencing w.e.f. 07th April 2021. The Patna High Court has decided to conduct complete functioning of the Court "exclusively through virtual mode" from 6th April to 17th April 2021 owing to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases in the State. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court on Monday decided to keep in abeyance its plan to resume physical hearing of cases till April 18 by declaring that the physical hearings in the High Court, district courts and tribunals in the Union Territory shall be conducted strictly through virtual mode. Similarly, the Bombay High Court also modified its SOP which further notifies that Bombay High Court at its principal seat in Mumbai will hear criminal matters physically, while civil matters will be taken up through video conferencing. It was also decided that the CJ's court will function in a hybrid format, and hear matters, both, physically and virtually. Additionally, Madhya Pradesh High Court also issued additional SOPs for the functioning of the High Court and subordinate courts on Saturday. The said SOPs came into effect on Monday. Click Here To Download Notification

Covid-"Hearing Of Cases Only Through VC": Allahabad HC Issues 'Modalities & Arrangement' For Functioning of Lucknow Bench During COVID

Sparsh Upadhyay

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