COVID-19 | Kerala High Court To Continue Virtual Hearings For One Month Or Till TPR Drops To 10%

Through a notice issued by the Registrar General, the Kerala High Court has notified its decision to continue virtual hearing of cases amid the steady hike of Covid-19 cases in the State.

The notice further declared that the earlier arrangements of online hearing will continue for a month or until the Test Positivity Rate drops below 10 percent, whichever is earlier. At present, the TPR in the State is over 15%

"It is hereby informed that arrangements with regard to the hearing of cases in the High Court, made in view of surge in Covid-19 cases in the State, vide notice cited, will continue for the next one month or till Test Positivity Rate (TPR) of Covid-19 pandemic goes down to 10 %, whichever is earlier," reads the notice. 

On January 14, the Court had issued a set of directions while reverting to online hearing. The directions are:

• Sitting of all Benches in the High Court will be through video conference. However, in exceptional cases, the concerned judge may decide if any particular case is to be heard in physical mode;

• Filing of cases in the High Court will continue as per the modified instructions issued by the High Court;

• Entry of Advocates' Clerks shall be limited for filing purposes only;

• Entry of the public to the High Court shall be restricted;

• A separate box will be placed in the Atrium of the High Court for dropping the physical case files for filing;

• The physical presence of court staff and officers in the High Court will be regulated.

Click Here To Read/Download The Notice