Bombay HC To Continue Hearing Extremely Urgent Matters With Limited Benches Till May 19 [Read Circular]

The Bombay High Court issued a notice on Monday declaring that all courts in Maharashtra, Goa, Union Territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu will continue to take up remand work and extremely urgent matters via video conferencing as per previous circular, until May 19.

Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Judges of the Administrative Committee have decided to keep the Annual General Transfer of judges in abeyance till April 2021.

The notice refers to guidelines issued by the Government of Maharashtra for precautions to be taken by staff while working, as well as guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) after extension of lockdown by two weeks. Here are a few precautions advised by the Court for lawyers and litigants entering court premises-

(i) Install the Arogya Setu app.

(ii) Identity proofs of all advocates and litigants will be asked for at the entry point.

(iii) No person will be permitted to enter the premises without wearing a mask.

(iv) Anyone showing signs or symptoms of Covid-19 after his/her screening, shall not be allowed to enter or remain in courtrooms. An isolation room shall be earmarked to isolate the said person and undertake further course of action vis-a-vis their treatment.

(v) At the entry gate of the Court complex, provision for liquid soap and water for hand wash shall be made and for sanitizers outside every courtroom.

(vi) Necessary social distancing shall be maintained during transaction of court business. It will be ensured that not more than fifty per cent capacity is allowed at a time in the lift. As far as possible, members of the staff, lawyers or litigants who are young should be encouraged to take the stairs for their own safety. 

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