MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Thursday decided that its benches, which now operate mostly virtually, will start sitting thrice a week physically and one day virtually from August 2, given the slowdown in Covid-19.
The decision was taken by the HC administrative committee, which met bar associations along with city civic chief Iqbal Chahal and state government officials. The officials told associations’ members that with a rise in vaccinations and reduction in daily positive cases, physical functioning of courts could commence.
HC plans to implement a full hybrid system in all its court rooms, and those courts equipped with hybrid systems will continue to operate on hybrid basis. Circulation of matters shall be via an application sent by email but lawyers can be permitted to mention urgent matters for hearing dates via video-conferencing, said a summary sent out by Bombay Bar Association standing committee. Litigants can enter the court only if their presence is required by the HC. The new SOPs will be circulated by the registry and state and central government officials will work out modalities to facilitate fully vaccinated lawyers and staff to travel by train on a monthly pass.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/bombay-hc-benches-will-now-sit-physically-and-virtually-from-monday-onwards/articleshow/84873933.cms
