Subordinate Courts In UP To Remain Open For Judicial Work From Today: Allahabad High Court Issues Guidelines

In view of the decreasing COVID cases in the state, the Allahabad High Court has issued fresh guidelines for the functioning of Subordinate Courts and Tribunals. From today (February 14) onwards, all the Courts (including tribunals) subordinate to the High Court shall remain open to take up the Judicial work & Administrative matters.

As per the latest guidelines issued yesterday, in case any COVID positive case is found in the court premises, the court will not be closed and it will continue to function after complete sanitization, with the help of the District Magistrate, other administrative officers & CMO/CMS.

However, if the concerned District Administration or CMO is of the opinion that the District or Outer Court premises should be closed due to the situation of COVID-19 pandemic, the Court may be closed with prior intimation mentioning the specific reasons to Allahabad High Court.

The following guidelines shall be applicable to all the Courts (including Tribunals) subordinate to High Court from today until further orders:

• The Presiding Officer shall take all possible steps to ensure that a minimum number of parties/Counsels are present in the Courtroom at one time, for Court proceedings, but shall not prevent the appearance of the parties in the cases, unless suffering some illness, to ensure physical distancing guidelines.
• Masks shall be strictly used by everyone who enters into the Court premises as well as into the Courtroom. Sanitizer shall be arranged at the door of the Courtroom. Social distancing guidelines shall be followed in the Courtroom.
• Necessary co-operation may be taken with the concerned Bar Associations, after discussion with the Office Bearers, to restrict/ regulate the entry of Advocates/ Litigants into the Court Premises. As soon as the argument of Ld. Counsels are complete, the Advocates/litigants shall leave the Courtroom/premises.
• Only such Learned Advocates, Litigants may be permitted to enter into the Court premises, whose cases/matters are listed. District Judges/ P.O.s shall ensure compliance of directions given by Hon'ble Apex Court High Court of Judicature at Allahabad in Judicial side and all directions/ guidelines issued by the Central Government & State Government regarding Covid-19