Madras High Court to function through virtual mode from 14th June until further orders [READ NOTIFICATION]

In view of the recent surge in corona virus cases the Chief Justice of Madras High Court on Thursday 10th June 2021 directed that the hearing of cases in the principal seat of Madras High Court and in the Madurai bench of Madras High Court will only be through virtual mode.

All advocates/ parties in person have been directed to appear only through video conferencing with effect from Monday June 14th until further notice.

However, the physical presence of the law officers of the State and the Central Government and the standing council for public sector undertaking etc. if required by the honorable court is permitted subject to the strict adherence of the COVID-19 safety protocols.

Entry of all other advocates, advocate clerks, litigants and parties in person inside the High Court premises has been prohibited.

Further, all the Law Chambers and Bar Association libraries will remain closed and the advocates have been given the liberty to get their case papers and other necessary things from their respective chambers between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM on Saturday 12th June 2021.

On 12th June 2021 extensive sanitization of the entire premises including the lawyers chambers will be conducted.

Lastly, it has been notified that the filing of the case papers, copy applications, returning or representing the case papers, and receiving the order copies in the Principal Seat at Madras will be in physical mode through the respective counters provided inside the South gate (gate #7) subject to the strict adherence of COVID-19 protocols or by email.

SOP related to subordinate courts:

The following directions have been issued for restricted functioning of subordinate courts in the state of Tamil Nadu and Union Territory of Puducherry, with effect from 14th June, 2021, until further orders. 

1. Only both sides ready matters be taken as far as possible through video conferencing.
2. The filing process shall be through the drop box method, as was done earlier.
3. Only urgent cases be taken up, restricting to a manageable number of cases in a day, on time slot.
4. The urgency of the matter to be taken up has to be decided by the concerned presiding officer of the court.
5. Experte orders should be avoided unless absolutely necessary and only upon giving due reasons thereof.
6. If necessary, witnesses can be examined through video conferencing by following the rules in this regard.
7. Entry of advocates and litigants into the court complex is to be restricted.
8. Bar associations and canteens shall remain closed until further orders.
9. However to sanitise and to provide access to papers for the lawyers, the Bar Association may be opened for four hours on Saturday 12th June 2021.
10. The Principal District Judges/ Principal Judge/ District Judge of the District concerned and the Chief Judge, union territory of Puducherry can make all arrangements for the smooth functioning of courts with minimum level staff not exceeding 30% depending on the situation prevailing in their respective districts an shall ensure better functioning of courts without compromising on the covid protocol.

In the related news, in view of the continuing threat of the COVID-19 pandemic the Gujarat and Orissa High Court had decided that they will function through video conferencing mode from Monday 7th June 2021.

However, the Gujarat High Court had issued directions with respect to resumption of physical functioning of all Subordinate Courts of Gujarat with effect from 7th June 2021.

[READ NOTIFICATION]