Covid-19: Punjab and Haryana HC adopts odd-even formula for hearing cases

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 10

Adopting odd-even formula for hearing cases, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday scaled down its functioning to almost half following the outbreak of the Covid third wave.

An order issued this evening made it clear that three Division Benches would function daily.

The Benches headed by Justice Augustine George Masih, Justice Tejinder Singh Dhindsa and Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao would function on “odd” dates such as first, third and fifth.

The Benches headed by Justice Ajay Tewari, Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice G.S. Sandhawalia would function on even dates such as second, fourth and sixth.

The first Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Ravi Shanker Jha and Justice Arun Palli would hold Court every Monday, Thursday or any other day.

The order also made it clear that five Single Benches would hear civil matters and writ petitions, and 13 Benches would take up criminal matters during the odd dates. On even dates, four Single Benches would hear civil matters and writ petitions, and 13 Benches would take up criminal matters  

The order was passed “keeping in view the upsurge of Covid-19 cases in the States of Punjab, Haryana and Union Territory Chandigarh, the government advisories and with a view to ensure the safety of the Judges, advocates, staff and litigants”.

It followed recommendations by a special committee in consultation with the Additional Solicitor-General of India, Advocates-General of Punjab and Haryana, UT senior standing counsel and public prosecutor, and the president of the Senior Advocates Bar Association, along with president and secretary of the High Court Bar Association.

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