Covid Third Wave: Karnataka HC Issues Revised SOP; Principal Bench At Bengaluru To Function In Virtual Mode Till Jan 14

As per a revised standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the Karnataka High Court, all cases at the Principal Bench at Bengaluru, will be heard through Virtual Mode till January 14. While at the benches in Dharwad and Kalaburagi, all the cases shall be heard by hybrid mode.

The SOP is issued in view of the rising number of cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19. It states that parties-in-person shall appear only through online mode and their physical appearance is not permitted.

Further it is stated that, "The parties-in-person and litigants are not allowed to enter the Court complex unless there is a specific order of the Court to that effect and unless a soft or hard copy of the order is shown to the security personnel at the entry point."

The SOP also says that every person entering the court premises including advocates, parties-in-person, staff members and litigants shall preferably wear proper double face mask including one N95 face mask; staff of the High Court shall wear hand gloves all the time and shall use sanitizer as indicated in the health advisories already issued.

It is stated that the persons who have provided swab samples for COVID testing may be infectious. Hence, as a matter of abundant caution, all such persons are advised to remain in strict isolation/ quarantine at home till their test results are communicated (All persons should compulsorily disclose the date on which swab came to be collected).

The SOP says wearing of masks is compulsory in the Court halls, Bar Association Premises, offices as well as in the Court compound. Anybody found not wearing mask shall be immediately required to leave the premises.

The canteen shall be closed in the Principal Bench at Bengaluru and the Benches at Dharwad and Kalaburagi.

The Advocate Association shall not be used by the Advocates in the Principal Bench at Bengaluru and the Benches at Dharwad and Kalaburagi.

As per SOP, Government Advocates in the Principal Bench at Bengaluru are required to appear through virtual mode. Whenever required, they are permitted to appear physically.

Filing

Filing of cases is permitted by two modes, i.e., e-filing and physical filing. 

In case of urgency, the Advocates/parties-in-person are entitled to file the matters by forwarding the complete petition/appeal in soft copy (scanned PDF format) by forwarding from their e-mail address.

Listing

All fresh matters shall be automatically listed on the days notified below:

1. Criminal Petitions U/s 439 of Cr.P.C – 3rd day from the date of filing.

2. Criminal Petitions U/s 438 of Cr.P.C, Criminal Petitions U/s 482 of Cr.P.C and Writ Petitions under Article 226 r/w Sec. 482 of Cr.P.C and Criminal Revision Petitions – 4th day from the date of filing.

3. Criminal Appeals – 4th day from the date of filing.

4. All Writ Petitions & Writ Appeals – 5th day from the date of filing.

5. All Civil matters – 5th day from the date of filing. (The General Holidays shall be excluded for counting the days)