Gujarat & Orissa High Courts To Function Through Virtual Mode From June 7, Gujarat Subordinate Courts To Resume Physical Functioning

In view of continuing threat of the COVID- 19 pandemic, the Gujarat & Orissa High Courts have decided that they will function through video-conferencing mode from Monday (June 7). 

However, the Gujarat High Court has issued directions with respect to resumption of physical functioning of all Subordinate Courts of Gujarat w.e.f. June 7.

Gujarat High Court Circular

After due deliberation with the Standing Committee, the Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court has direct that, all the Courts of High Court of Gujarat shall function regularly through Video Conference with effect from Monday, 7 th June, 2021.

The Circular in this regard states:

"It is brought to the notice of all the learned Advocates, Party-in-persons and all the concerned that after due deliberation with the Standing Committee, the Honourable Chief Justice has been pleased to direct that, all the Honourable Courts of High Court of Gujarat shall function regularly through Video Conference with effect from Monday, 7 th June, 2021."

Orissa High Court Circular

The Orissa HIgh Court has issued a circular stating that it will function from June 7, 2021 to July 2, 2021 as per the following arrangements:

1. One Division Bench and six Single Benches will function every working day at 10.30 A.M. through Video Conferencing.
2. The office of the High Court will function with 50% staff (except the Officers of the rank of Assistant Registrar and above). The staff who are required to attend the High Court should carry their Identity Cards at all times.
3. Except the Officers and staff of the Court, there shall be restrictions for others over entry into the High Court campus.
4. However, the Advocates concerned may come to the High Court for the limited purpose of removal of defects.
5. Filing of cases and documents may be done either through Drop Box (kept near the counters of the Copying Section) from 10.30 A.M. to 12.30 P.M. or through E-mail
6. Urgent matters where oral mentioning is felt necessary may be done before the Registrar (Judicial) and Deputy Registrar (Judicial) through Video Conferencing between 11.00 A.M. and 12.00 Noon.

Gujarat's Subordinate courts

• All the Subordinate Courts of Gujarat (except the Courts in Micro Containment Zones, if any) shall start functioning physically with Regular Court Working Hours of 10.45 am to 06.10 pm
• The Subordinate Courts in Micro Containment Zones (if any) shall continue to function on virtual mode only.
• All the Subordinate Courts shall function as per regular practice & procedures in consonance with social distancing guidelines issued by the Central/State Government and as per the Standard Operating Procedure(SOP) laid down by High Court of Gujarat Circular dated 04.11.2020 regarding resumption of Physical Functioning of Subordinate Courts
• As far as possible, the entry gates to the Court Campus or building shall be restricted to only one. The Principal Judicial Officer may have multiple entry/exit points as per the need of the Court campus.

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