An Advocate Tests COVID Positive, Manipur HC To Close Till 21 September [Read Circular & MHCBA Letter]

The Registrar of the High Court has mentioned in the Notification issued on Thursday (17^th September) that no cause list will be published for the said period (till September 21^st).

However, in case of "extreme urgency", an appropriate bench on 21^st September will be constituted by the Chief Justice on the request made by the counsel or party.

It may be noted that the Manipur High Court Bar Association on Thursday (17^th September) requested the Chief Justice of Manipur High Court to adjourn Court proceedings for at least one week.

In the letter, the Manipur High Court Bar Association had stated,

"an unprecedented situation has been created in the last few days as it was reported that an Advocate who can come to the High Court of Manipur and argued a case in Court No.2 on 10/09/2020 and 11/09/2020 has been found to be COVID 19 positive. As a precautionary measure all the employees have been tested today and the results of the tests are awaited."

Further, it was said that if the Court work is to continue in the normal manner it would pose a great risk to the lives of the Advocates, litigants and employees of the High Court.

The letter further stated,

"In view of the unprecedented situation and also considering the advice of the Health Department, on behalf of the members of the Bar, it is requested to appraise the Hon'ble Chief Justice of the High Court of Manipur about the grave situation and to request His Lordship to kindly adjourn Court proceedings for at least one week."

It may be noted that a number of courts had to limit/suspend the regular functioning owing to positive cases being detected on their campuses.

Recently, the Gujarat High Court had decided to remain closed from September 12, 2020 till September 15, 2020, after 12 Court employees tested COVID positive on Wednesday (09^th September).

Also, in view of the significant increase in the number of positive patients of Corona Virus, High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Principal Seat Jabalpur Hon'ble the Chief Justice had ordered that the Judicial and Administrative functioning of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Principal Seat Jabalpur and its Registry shall remain closed for the period of 16-09-2020 to 20-09-2020 ( 16 & 18/09/2020 working days, 19/09/2020 - 2nd Saturday and 17 & 20/09/2020 public holidays) to ensure the effective and proper sanitization, to break the chain of COVID-19 in the Court premises and to stop physical and E-Filing from 05.00 PM of 15-09-2020 till 10.00 AM of 21 -09-2020.

(With Inputs from Advocate Ajoy Pebam, Manipur High Court)

Click Here To Download Notification

[Read Notification]

Click Here To Download Letter

[Read Letter]