[Manipur HC] Advocates & Litigants Advised To Avoid Entering HC Premises Till October 5; Justice LS Jamir Under 'Self Isolation

Further, the Advocates and litigants have been advised to avoid entering the premises till Monday (05^th October), 2020.

This has been done in order to contain the further spread of Covid-19 in the Court premises and as per the advice of the Chief Medical Officer, Imphal East.

It has been further informed that the court proceedings will be done through Video Conferencing.

The Notification further states,

"Any Advocate or party, if he/she needs to enter the Court premises in case of real necessity, will be required to produce COVID-l9 negative test report issued by a competent authority, The test certificate should have been issued within the last fifteen days."

In the meanwhile, the Notification clarifies, filing of fresh matters will be accepted through e-mail at hcmefiling@gmail.com in terms of Notification no. 79 (dated 22.08.2020) and taken up for hearing through Video Conferencing. The Advocates have been asked to link from their home office to the Video Conferencing Court.

The Notification also states,

"After report of few Covid-19 positive cases on 16/l7.09.2020, more number of Covid-19 cases are reported after the test conducted in the High Court premises on 17.09.2020 in relation to officers and staff. Some more results are awaited. Advocates who were physically present in Court during this period were also informed by the Registry to get tested and self-quarantine themselves. The Advocates who attended Court in person during this period are yet to furnish the test report so as to screen others, if any, who were in contact with them. This will be necessary in case of COVID-l9 positive cases."

On and after 05.10.2020, a new notification will be issued after assessing the situation, concludes the notification.

Notification regarding Justice Lanusungkum Jamir being in self-isolation

Apart from the aforesaid notification, another notification has been issued by the High Court informing that Justice Lanusungkum Jamir is under self-isolation for medical reason and as advised by the Chief Medical Officer, Imphal East, Manipur, he will not be holding Court.

"The Registry will notify all concerned as and when his Lordship is able to resume Court sittings after clearance by the Chief Medical Officer, Imphal East, Manipur", reads the Notification.

It may be noted that the High Court of Manipur on Thursday (17^th September) suspended the normal functioning/sitting of the Court till 21^st September in view of the detection of a COVID case within the High Court premises.

The Registrar of the High Court had 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).

Further, on 21^st September, in view of the direction issued by the CMO, Imphal East, Govt. of Manipur, the request made by the High Court Bar Association and High Court Employees' Association, and pending the declaration of the results of COVID-19 test in respect of some of the officials/staff of the High Court and in the interest of all concerned and to contain the spread of COVID-19, it was informed to all the concerned that Regular Court proceedings of the High Court would be suspended till Friday, the 25 September 2020