[Covid-19] Gujarat HC To Hear Only Urgent Matters Between July 15 & July 17 [Read Circular]

Emphasizing on the need to "balance" the functionality of the Court with safety of members of the Registry, it has been intimated:

• Fresh matters of urgent nature of Temporary Bail, Regular Bail, Anticipatory Bail, Parole-Furlough matters, Habeas Corpus, Detention and urgent fresh Civil Nature matters shall be listed. A brief note explaining the urgency would accompany such matters which will be placed before the concerned Bench along with the matters. The urgency to be determined by the concerned Bench where the matter is listed.
• Pending matters that have been filed during the lockdown will not be listed unless a note explaining the urgency is moved by the concerned advocate(s). Such note would be placed before an Hon'ble Judge nominated by the Chief Justice on theadministrative side. On acceptance of the urgency, the matters would be listed before the Benches sitting for judicial work. A serious endeavour would be made to complete this entire exercise within 3 days of moving of the said urgency note by the advocate(s) concerned.
• For all pending matters, that have been filed before the lockdown, the procedure as enumerated in point no. 2 shall be adopted. However, the matters would be listed within approximately 4-5 days of moving of the said urgency note by the advocate(s) concerned.
• Mentioning of matters would continue as per current dispensation.

The High Court premises was closed between July 8 and July 10, after six staff members from the HC Registry and one Police constable from the Vigilance Department, tested positive for Covid-19.

As intimated by the High Court today, as many as 17 members from HC Registry have tested Covid positive. Under these circumstances, the High Court said,

"The functionality of the Courts needs to be balanced with the safety of the members of the Registry, which is the backbone of the Court and without the active and cooperative participation of very good message from the Registry, it would not have been possible for the High Court to function in such an efficient manner. The members of the Registry have weathered the toughest of circumstances and have come to the premises of the High Court even during the peak of the Lockdown and therefore, it would not be out of place to mention the heroic role that they have played in enabling and supporting the dispensation of justice."

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