Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 30: High Court has ordered resumption of physical hearings in all courts in Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh from July 5, 2021. However, the entry of litigants and public into the court premises from the very outer gate shall continue to be prohibited.
Keeping in view the latest SOPs of the Government of India and Government of UT of Jammu & Kashmir relating to relaxation in restrictions regarding containment of COVID-19 and also the considerable decline in daily number of COVID-19 cases, the physical hearing of the cases in the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir as well as in the District and Subordinate Courts and Tribunals in UTs of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh shall resume with effect from 05.07.2021, read an order issued by the Registrar General.
However, with a view to ensure that there is no complacency against the spread of COVID-19 infection, it has been ordered that advocates shall be allowed entry into the court premises but they will restrict their entry in a manner that only those advocates enter the court building on a given day whose cases are listed on that day before any of the Bench/Court.
On entry into the court building, advocates shall strictly maintain the social distancing SOPs while waiting for hearing of their cases. They shall not huddle either in the well or in the gallery outside the court rooms, the Registrar General said, adding “as and when their cases are finished they shall make an endeavour to leave the court premises at once”.
Moreover, only those advocates, staff members and any other stake holder will be permitted entry in the court premises who have been vaccinated. Entry of clerks and agents of the advocates into the court rooms shall continue to be prohibited for the time being.
Entry of witness(s) and accused person(s) shall be permitted in District and Subordinate Courts subject to strict compliance of latest SOPs pertaining to the containment of Covid-19 and vaccination. “Entry of litigants and public into the court premises from the very outer gate shall continue to be prohibited. If, however, any litigant on any reasonable ground is compelled to argue his case personally, he shall be allowed entry into the court premises subject to the condition that he makes an application at least two days prior to the date of hearing through e-mail to the Registrar Judicial/Presiding Officer of the Court disclosing such compelling reasons and seeking permission in that regard”, the order said.
Moreover, entry of the clerical staff of the Advocate General’s office or of any Standing Counsel of any department or any Government officer shall continue to be prohibited in the court rooms for the time being, unless specifically summoned or called by any court.
For the time being, advocates are free to file their cases, applications etc., either physically or by virtual mode. The entry of advocates in the office rooms/branches of the High Court Registry/Courts shall continue to be prohibited.
The relaxation of entry into the court premises shall be only 09.30 am till 05.00 pm on each working day so as to enable the sanitizing teams assigned for the purpose to carry out sanitization of the premises according to the standing procedures in that behalf.
The canteens located in the premises of the court complexes are also permitted to be opened and run with effect from 05.07.2021 subject to 50% sitting capacity and strict observance of all the relevant SOPs, instructions etc.
The Registrars Judicial of the High Court/PDJs shall ensure that the latest SOPs and instructions on the subject issued by the Central and UT Governments and the protocol set by the High Court are strictly adhered to and in that behalf all necessary arrangements are made in the Court premises.
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