COVID Third Wave: Allahabad High Court To Hear Cases Virtually From January 3

The Allahabad High Court has decided to hear cases virtually in view of rising cases of COVID in the state of Uttar Pradesh. This arrangement would remain in place until further orders of the Court. Speaking to Live Law, the president of Allahabad High Court Bar Association, Mr. Radha Kant Ojha, and the president of Oudh Bar Association, Mr. Rakesh Kumar Chaudhary confirmed that the Court would be hearing cases virtually from January 3 till further orders.Significantly, this decision was taken in a Meeting of the Administrative Committee of Allahabad High Court held today under the Chairmanship of Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal, and it was attended by the Office Bearers of the Oudh Bar Association.However, this week, no adverse orders would be passed by the Court if an advocate is unable to join the court proceedings and such a matter would be heard the next day.In related news, due to an increase in COVID-19 cases and the Omicron variant, the Supreme Court today has decided to revert to the virtual hearing mode for next two weeks. As per the notification released on Sunday evening, it was notified that:"It is hereby notified for the information of the members of the bar, party-in-person and all concerned that keeping in view the rising number of cases of omicron variant (COVID-2019), the competent authority has been pleased to direct that modified standard Operating Procedure (Sop) Notified on 07.10.2021 for physical hearing (With hybrid option before hon'ble courts will remain suspended for the present and all hearings before the honble courts for a period of two weeks from and with effect from 03.01.2022 shall be through virtual mode only."Further, in view of the threat of the imminent third wave of the Covid pandemic and also the alarming rise in the number of Covid affected cases, the Calcutta High Court has also decided to function through virtual mode only with effect from January 3.On December 30, the Delhi High Court had decided that the High Court and district courts would be functioning through virtual mode only with effect from January 3 to January 15, 2022.On the other hand, after the 9th November notification that lifted restrictions on the entry of advocates and clerks to court premises, Madras High Court has now decided to hear cases solely through physical mode.The notification states that all virtual hearings on video conferencing platforms will remain suspended from 3rd January 2022, i.e, Monday onwards. The mandatory physical mode will be applicable both to the Principal seat at Madras and the Madurai Bench from 3rd January.Taking note of the present spike of Covid-19 and its variant, the guidelines of the Government of India and the various States Governments, imposing certain restrictions, regulations etc, the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has also decided to revert to Virtual Mode of hearing from January 3, 2022, to January 31, 2022.

COVID Third Wave: Allahabad High Court To Hear Cases Virtually From January 3

Sparsh Upadhyay

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