COVID-19 Surge: Uttarakhand High Court To Function Exclusively Through Video Conferencing Mode From January 10

Considering the imminent danger to human life by the spread of the COVID-19 virus and the alarming rise in the number of persons affected thereby, the Uttarakhand High Court today decided to take up cases via virtual mode only from January 10.This decision has been taken in view of the health guidelines issued by the Government of India and the State Government, for the safety of the litigants, advocates, officers, and staff of the Court.A notification was issued in this regard under the order of the Acting Chief Justice with following directions for the transaction of business in the Hon'ble High Court w.e.f, 10.01.2022 (Monday).The notification states that till further orders, only the following types of cases will be taken up by the Hon'ble Court(A) All fresh matters. (B) Pending matters of the following category- (a) Bail Applications. (b) Writ Petitions Criminal (WPCRL). (c) Criminal Miscellaneous Application u/S 482 CrPC. (d) Writ Petitions (Habeas Corpus). (e) Writ Petitions seeking relief against eviction, ejectment, dispossessions from the property, or its demolition. (f) Writ Petitions seeking relief against attachment, auction, or any similar legal recourse affecting the property. (g) Special Appeals, where applicable, against the orders passed in aforesaid matters. (h) Urgency applications. (i) Any other matter, as per directions, on being mentioned before the respective bench.Significantly, many media portals have reported that Justice Ravindra Maithani at the Uttarakhand High Court and the wife of another judge have tested positive for the virus.In related news, in view of rising COVID Cases in the state and consequent restrictions imposed by the State Government to avoid mass gatherings, the Gujarat High Court has decided to function through Virtual Mode only from January 10 till further orders.It may be noted that many High Courts have switched to Virtual Hearing mode in view of the apparent third wave of COVID, these include Gauhati High Court, Telangana High Court, Rajasthan High Court, Patna High Court etc.In view of the sudden surge in Covid-19 cases in the States of Punjab, Haryana, and Union Territory Chandigarh and with a view to ensuring the safety of Judges, Advocates, Staff, and Litigants, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has decided to hear cases only though Virtual Mode from January 5.Due to an increase in COVID-19 cases and the Omicron variant, the Supreme Court has also decided to revert to the virtual hearing mode for the next two weeks.In view of the threat of the Covid pandemic and also sudden spurt and a spike in COVID-19 cases in the State of Jharkhand and Ranchi in particular, the Jharkhand High Court has also decided to function in VC mode with effect from today, i.e., January 3.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.The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has decided to hear cases through Virtual Mode only from January 4 to January 21 and the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has also decided to revert to Virtual Mode of hearing from January 3, 2022, to January 31, 2022.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.A day after Allahabad High Court decided to hear cases virtually in view of rising cases of COVID in the state of Uttar Pradesh, the High Court yesterday issued a revised notification allowing for a Hybrid mode of hearing (in both the benches of HC) w.e.f. January 4.Click here To Read/Download Notification

COVID-19 Surge: Uttarakhand High Court To Function Exclusively Through Video Conferencing Mode From January 10

Sparsh Upadhyay

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