Kerala HC Disposes Of 400 Bail Applications In 7 Days Via Video Conferencing

The Kerala High Court, which received national attention in implementing e-courts in this COVID-19 lockdown period, disposed of a record number of bail applications over last 7 days. One of its new judges, Justice P V Kunhikrishnan, who dealt with bail applications in the previous 7 days of vacation sitting, disposed of as many as 400 bail applications.

Between March 24 and May 13, 1462 cases were filed in the High Court, including 604 bail applications and 631 writ petitions.

As per the data available till April 24, 14 Sessions Courts in the state dealt with 1421 bail applications. While 545 of them were allowed, 335 were dismissed. 

The HC is set to re-open from May 18 with full capacity after the mid-summer vacation. Admission matters will be taken up through video conferencing. Physical functioning of the court will be for only final hearing matters, with strict adherence of norms of physical distancing.

During the summer recess period, the High Court had been hearing urgent cases via video-conferencing through Zoom app. The Court dealt with several issues of larger public interest such as the Kerala-Karnataka border blockade, Sprinklr deal, salary deferment, ordinance on salary deferment, return of expatriates, entry for Keralites stranded at Walayar border etc., during this period.