Physical Functioning Will Be Stopped If Advisories On Hygiene & Distancing Not Followed : Calcutta HC Notifies Protocol For Post-Lockdown Functioning

"In the event, physical functioning of the Court resumes but it is observed that the distancing and health and hygiene advisories are not been met, the Chief Justice may be constrained to stop the physical functioning of Court."

It has been clarified however that function of the court will resume only after transport services, particularly, suburban trains and public transport system, are resumed.

Further it is intimated that the Benches so constituted will sit on a "staggered basis".

"If, there are, say, 27 Benches in all (Division Benches and Single Benches put together), 14 Benches will sit on Monday, Wednesday and Friday in one week and Tuesday and Thursday of the following week. Similarly, 13 other Benches will sit on Tuesday and Thursday of the first week and on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of the second week," the notice states.

In addition to this, the following guidelines have been issued to endure physical-distancing at all times:

• Mentioning will be allowed only by way of Vide Conference between 4.30pm and 5pm on every working day, restricted to six or seven Courts at a time. Mentioning schedules pertaining to respective Benches will be announced in advance on the High Court Website for the convenience of all concerned.
• Every Bench will indicate a cluster of four to six matters which will be taken up in Courts on every hour of sitting. If such matters are exhausted, other matters scheduled later in that day will not be taken up during such time. If the matters are not exhausted during the allocated time, they will stand adjourned till another day, but will not spill over into the times allotted for other matters on that particular day.
• Only 6 lawyers and litigants will be allowed entry into any Court room, at a time. If a particular matter requires more lawyers, such matter will stand adjourned unless the parties agree otherwise without compromising on the number of persons being permitted entry into a particular Court room.
• For larger Court rooms, a maximum of 8 persons other than the Judges and Court staff will be allowed.
• Only two entry gates to the Main Building will be open, i.e. Gate-'E' and Gate-'B'. Apart from this, only the Judges' Gate will remain open for Judges, Registrars, drivers, orderlies and protocol personnel.
• Advocates not having work in Court and litigants who are not appearing in person or who have not been directed to appear before any Court, should refrain from coming to Court.
• Only 25% of sitting capacity in any library room be allowed entry.
• Only 3 persons will be allowed on the smaller lifts and not more than 5 persons will be allowed on the bigger lifts.
• Canteens and Refreshment Services in the High Court premises will not resume.