Saurabh Malik
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 3
The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday will take a decision on the mode of hearing cases following apprehensions of omicron outbreak. The high court is currently hearing cases both physically and virtually.
Available information suggests an urgent meeting of a special committee, constituted for the purpose, to discuss the issue regarding the functioning of the courts from January 5, when the work resumes after a short winter break. The meeting is scheduled to be be held around noon.
The High Court had shifted to virtual mode of hearing in March 2020. Limited physical hearing was ordered to be resumed from February 8, 2021, but it had to be suspended as the second wave took in its grip High Court judges, judicial officers in the subordinate judiciary, advocates, and the staff. The High Court was forced to go back to restrictive functioning from April 19 last year. But all Benches kept on functioning through the virtual mode.
Following a “massive surge” in cases, the functioning had to be restricted further from April 28 last year. But all Benches resumed functioning through the virtual mode from July 28 last year with the reduction in the severity of the second wave.
Amidst apprehensions of Covid third wave, the High Court decided to partially resume physical hearing of cases from September 6 last year. The number of Benches hearing cases physically increased gradually.
Punjab and Haryana High Court to decide on mode of hearing cases today following apprehensions of omicron outbreak
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