'Odd-Even Chamber Numbers May Be Opened Alternately On Weekdays': SC Issues Instructions For Opening Of Lawyers Chamber Blocks [Read Circular]

It has been intimated the SCBA and SCAORA may jointly prepare and circulate a plan detailing the 'Odd-Even' Chamber Numbers of every Block, which would open alternately on Weekdays, to avoid overcrowding.

Further, entry will be allowed only for Members and their staff between 10 AM to 4 PM on weekdays and between 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturdays.

The guidelines read as under:

• The Lawyers Chamber Blocks would follow the timings 10 AM to 4 PM (Monday to Friday, except holidays) and 10 AM to 2 PM (Saturday, except holidays), followed by sanitisation of the Blocks; on Sundays and holidays, the Blocks will remain closed for deep cleaning and sanitization;
• The Lawyers Chamber Blocks shall have entry only for Learned Members and their staff (on production of Proximity Card or Letter of Authority), who would submit themselves to thermal-screening and duly fill up selfdeclaration Forms/Daily Registers (containing contact-tracing details), both to be arranged jointly by SCBA & SCAORA, and the SCS shall refuse entry into any Block on non-compliance of this condition; further the SCBA/SCAORA staff shall forward copies of the self-declaration forms/ Daily Registers of each Block to the Registry at the earliest, but not later than the end of office hours on the following working day;
• Entrants who are found symptomatic during the thermal screening shall be denied entry into the Blocks;
• Entrants not wearing mask(s) shall be denied entry into the Blocks;
• To avoid over-crowding inside the Lawyers Chamber Blocks, in terms of the prescribed social-distancing norms, the SCBA and SCAORA may jointly prepare and circulate plan detailing the 'Odd-Even' Chamber Numbers of every Block, which would alternately open on Weekdays (Monday to Saturday) indicating therein the maximum number of persons who may access any Chamber at any point of time;
• It would be mandatory to use stairs while coming downstairs;
• There will be a single-entry point to every Block fitted with hand-sanitizer machine provided by the Registry, and manned by the SCBA/SCAORA authorized personnel and SCS staff;
• The SCBA/SCAORA may inform the Members and their staff that operation of air-conditioning machines in Chambers may raise health-concerns in the prevalent pandemic-situation.

Last week, the Delhi High Court also allowed lawyers to access their chambers situated in the three Lawyers' Chambers Block in the court premises, on certain conditions.

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