High Court readies itself to resume physical hearings

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 4

The Punjab and Haryana High Court, it seems, is working out the modalities and creating infrastructure for part resumption of physical hearings in courtrooms. It is believed that four or five courtrooms are being modified for the purpose. The modifications include setting up of a partition between Bar members and the Bench and provision of microphones.

Physical hearings were to be permitted on an experimental basis in a few courtrooms upon reopening of the High Court after the winter break, but were postponed in view of the new strain.

Protesting against the non-resumption of physical hearings, nearly 250 Bar Association members observed a hunger strike as the HC reopened after the break.

The members gathered in the main hall with placards seeking resumption of physical hearings. The association was of the view that the pandemic had subsided to a great extent and every sector of the economy had been opened. However, physical hearings of the court were under suspension since March 21, causing great hardship to the citizens, lawyers, stenographers and clerks. It was also resulting in denial of justice.

More than 100 members of the High Court Clerks Bar Association and all staff members of the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association, too, observed a hunger strike to support the demand.

The High Court went into restricted functioning mode in March-end following the Covid outbreak. The cases are currently being heard in the High Court through videoconferencing.