COVID-19: Madras High Court ACJ T Raja Urges Lawyers To Wear Masks, Says 3-4 Judges Have Tested Positive

Amid the rising cases of COVID-19 in the country, Acting Chief Justice T Raja of the Madras High Court on Tuesday urged all the lawyers appearing in the courts to wear masks when not arguing. 

Justice Raja also asked why many lawyers were still crowding the court halls in spite of the availability of a hybrid system. The judge also revealed that three to four judges of the high court have already tested positive for the coronavirus.

"Three-four judges have also tested positive for Covid-19. You can remove the masks when arguing but otherwise wear them inside the courtroom," Justice Raja said.

On April 10, the court decided to have a hybrid mode of hearing both at the Principal bench and the Madurai bench to reduce the footfall inside the court premises. The court also made wearing of masks inside the court halls mandatory.

The court had also advised advocates, litigants, and parties to follow COVID safety guidelines including social distancing. The officers concerned were also directed to take necessary steps to sanitize the court halls, chambers, sections, and the entire court premises and to make hand sanitizers available at all important places including the entrances of court halls.