Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat & Himachal Pradesh HCs Issue SOP For Resumption Of Physical Functioning Of High Court/Subordinate Courts

Madya Pradesh High Court

The Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh High Court, upon consideration of the recommendations of the Special Committee of the High Court and after due deliberations with the Bar Associations issued Standard Operating Procedure (S.O.P.) (For Hybrid System of Physical / Virtual Hearing of the Cases) for the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Principal Seat Jabalpur and its Benches at Indore & Gwalior.

The Standard Operating Procedure will come into force w.e.f. Monday (15^th February 2021).

SOP Highlights

• The hearing of the cases, in which applications for urgent hearing are filed, will commence at Principal Seat Jabalpur and Benches at Indore and Gwalior, by default, through physical mode w.e.f. 15/02/2021 (Monday), whereas, virtual hearing shall be conducted only upon the request of the concerned Advocate / Petitioner-in-person.
• Advocates who are above 65 years, in specific, and other Advocates,' Petitioners-in-person may appear through virtual mode on the basis of advance intimation given to the Registry
• In fresh cases, filed through physical mode, Advocates/Petitioners-in person, at the time of filing, may submit their request for hearing through virtual mode mentioning the same in the "Index" page of the case.
• In fresh cases, filed through "e-filing" mode, Advocates/Petitioners-in person, at the time of filing, may submit their request for hearing through virtual mode through the tab 'Request for Virtual Hearing', provided in the "e-filing" software.
• If there are more than one Advocate in a particular case, then one may appear physically and other may appear by virtual mode, subject to submission of request as above. The mode of hearing will not be changed on the date of hearing.
• Physical final hearing of the cases will be conducted ordinarily on every Thursday. Only final hearing of Writ Appeals, Writ Petitions, Criminal Appeals and Civil Appeals will be conducted. Preference will be given to those Criminal Appeals, in which appellants / accused persons are in jail.
• The written consent of all the concerned / contesting parties or their advocates is necessary for listing the case for final hearing. In absence of consent of any party or their advocate, the case shall not be listed for final hearing.
• Wearing of gowns by the Advocates appearing before the High Court shall be optional. However, it shall be necessary for the Advocates to wear the Coat and the Band.
• The High Court Bar Association at Principal Seat Jabalpur and Benches at Indore & Gwalior may open their Bar Halls/Offices by strictly adhering to the norms of Covid-19 Protocol and as per the guidelines issued from time to time by the Central Government / State Government and High Court of Madhya Pradesh regarding prevention from Coronavirus (Covid-19).

Gujarat High Court

Taking into account the reducing number of COVID-19 cases and demands from the bar associations, the Gujarat High Court last week issued a circular permitting lower court established at the District Headquarters of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara & Rajkot to resume work physically from March 1.

All subordinate courts (except those in micro-containment zones, if any) at district headquarters of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot shall start functioning physically with regular court working hours of 10.45 am to 6.10 pm.

Last month, HC permitted all lower courts except in the above mentioned four cities to resume functioning during regular office hours.

Himachal Pradesh High Court

Considering the constant decline in COVID-19 positive cases in the State and in supersession of all previous notifications/office orders regarding working of the Subordinate Courts, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Tuesday (09^th February) ordered that all the Subordinate Courts in the State of Himachal Pradesh shall start regular functioning from 15.2.2021, as per the practice and procedure.

The District and Sessions Judge(s) of the concerned Civil and Sessions Division(s) have been directed ensure that all the guidelines/ instructions regarding COVID-19, issued by the Central/State Government and the High Court from time to time be observed.

Click Here To Download Madhya Pradesh High Court's SOP

Click Here To Download Gujarat High Court's Circular

Click Here To Download Himachal Pradesh High Court's Circular