Supreme Court Issues Additional Guidelines For Court Staff, Advocates; Makes Rapid/RT-PCR Test Mandatory If Showing Symptoms

The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued additional guidelines in view of the growing concerns amid sudden upsurge of Covid-19 cases and as a precautionary measure to contain the spread of infection as regards to all the entrants including Registry Staff, Advocates and their staff etc. in the Supreme Court premises.

The Circular issued in this regard reads thus:

"All the entrants to the Supreme Court premises, i.e. the Registry staff, staff of the coordinate agencies, Ld. Advocates and their staff etc., if showing any symptoms similar to those notified for Covid-19 infection shall subject themselves to Rapid/RT-PCR test."

The circular also states that it shall be the duty of the Controlling Officers to ensure that the staff under their control "wears mask, maintains physical distancing and frequently sanitizes/washes hands and follows the prescribed Covid appropriate behaviour."

The said circular provides that these additional guidelines will be in addition to the existing protocols already in place vide Circulars issued by the Registry of the Apex Court.

Further guidelines issued as are follows:

- Persons with notified symptoms like fever, cough, body-ache, loss of taste and smell, diarrhea etc. shall restrict themselves from coming to office/premises, isolate themselves immediately and seek medical advice.

- There shall not be any crowding or loitering in the campus and movement in common areas should be only for specific purposes and be completed within the minimum time.

- The lift should not be used by more than 3 persons at a time and shall be used only for going upwards; for coming downstairs, stairs should be used.

Click Here To Read Circular