Allahabad High Court Again Moves To Virtual Hearing After 8 Judges Test Positive For COVID

The Allahabad High Court (both benches) has again decided to function via Virtual Mode of hearing (starting from tomorrow) after 8 judges, a few judicial employees and some lawyers tested COVID-19 Positive.

This decision came 6 days after the High Court had decided to move from a virtual mode of hearing to a hybrid mode of hearing.

Speaking to Live Law, the president of Oudh Bar Association, Mr. Rakesh Kumar Chaudhary confirmed that today, a meeting of the Administrative Committee of Allahabad High Court was held under the Chairmanship of Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal, wherein the CJ himself proposed to go back to the virtual mode of hearing.

The proposal was agreed to by the Bar Councils at both the benches and from Monday (January 10), all the matters shall be heard on the WebEx Video Conferencing platform.

In the meeting, it was mentioned that 8 Judges of the Allahabad High Court (3 from Lucknow Bench and 5 from Bench at Prayagraj) have been tested positive for COVID till now. However, 2 of the judges have now tested negative.

It was also informed in the meeting that the Registrar (Protocol) of Allahabad High Court has tested positive today and he had reportedly come in the contact of many of the Judges.

It may be noted that earlier this month, the Allahabad High Court had decided to hear cases virtually in view of rising cases of COVID in the state of Uttar Pradesh, however, the next day, it decided to move to a Hybrid mode of hearing keeping in view the protests made against the VC mode of hearing by the advocates.

With rising COVID cases, today a meeting was held and it has been decided to again go back to the VC mode of hearing.

President of Oudh Bar Association, Mr. Rakesh Kumar Chaudhary requested the HC administration to make available at least 30 computers in the Lucknow Bench premises so that those advocates who do not have smartphone, do not suffer because of not being able to join VC hearings,.