Punjab and Haryana HC to partially resume physical hearing of cases

Saurabh Malik

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 3

Amidst apprehensions of Covid third wave, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday decided to partially resume physical hearing of cases.

Two Division Benches and 10 Single Benches will be designated for hearing of cases through the physical mode from September 6.

The High Court made it clear that four Single Benches would take up writ petitions and civil matter, while six would take up criminal matters. The weekly roster of the Benches to be nominated for physical hearing would be published separately.

The High Court had earlier also resumed physical hearing in a phased manner, but had to suspend it amidst surge in Covid cases during the second wave.

The decision to go ahead with limited physical hearing was taken following recommendation made by the High Court’s special committee, the government advisories and on the basis of opinion of medical and administrative experts.

The Chief Justice also made it clear that for the time being the existing system of mentioning, filing, listing of cases and hearing of cases through videoconferencing would continue. The hearing of the cases through physical mode would be in addition to the same.

The entry/exit of the advocates/clerk would be permitted from gate number 1, 2 and 5 only on showing the e-pass issued by the High Court.

The e-pass could be downloaded from e-pass portal available on the High Court website after filling up the required particulars. It would be mandatorily mentioned whether the applicant was vaccinated.

E-pass would be issued only to the advocate whose name was published in the cause-list of the Benches nominated for physical hearing. Only one advocate and his clerk would be permitted for one party.