Amid Covid surge, district courts across Punjab and Chandigarh shift to virtual hearings

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 5

Amid an uptick in Covid-19 infections, the District Courts across Punjab and Chandigarh have largely shifted to virtual mode of hearing cases while imposing other restrictions.

The office of Patiala district and sessions judge Rajinder Aggarwal has emphasised hearing cases through video-conferencing. Physical hearing was allowed only in a limited category of cases while following Covid-19 protocol.

Only fully vaccinated people would be allowed to enter the court complex. Action would be initiated against those roaming around without masks. Individuals carrying certificates issued by their counsels regarding their “required presence” would be allowed to enter.  “The court should not insist upon the personal appearance of the complainants in routine cases rather the personal appearance of the complainant should be insisted upon if he is supposed to make statement before the court”, it said.

The readers have also been directed to furnish list of witnesses supposed to appear in the court before the date.

Amritsar district and sessions judge Harpreet Kaur also came out with a new roster for all the judicial officers in the District Courts and Sub-Divisional Courts at Ajnala and Baba Bakala. Only 50 per cent of the Judges would be available for physical hearing, while the remaining would work from home. Most of the cases would be adjourned to suitable dates. Urgent matters, to be heard by judicial officer working from home, would be taken up the very next day. The judicial officers have also been asked to depute 50 per cent of the staff to ensure smooth working.

Issuing directions to ensure safety of judicial officials, lawyers, staff and litigants, Jalandhar District and Sessions Judge Rupinderjit Chahal specified 18 types of case to be taken during restrictive functioning. These include bail applications, protection petitions, custody cases, excise, gambling, stay matters, time bound civil and criminal cases. The filing of fresh cases would be permitted from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm. To prevent overcrowding, videoconferencing mode would be preferred wherever possible, especially for the under-trials.

The courts have also been advised to summon limited number of witnesses. It has also been suggested that just one lawyer should appear for a particular case. The staff has been directed to accept the bail bonds and sapurdi papers till 3 pm only. Everyone else has been asked to ensure wearing of masks and maintaining social distance.

Ludhiana District and Sessions Judge Munish Singal has ordered the hearing of all pending cases through video-conferencing till January 15. Litigants would be allowed to enter the complex only with downloaded copy of court order requiring their personal appearance. In case of urgency, the lawyer could move application at official website for physical hearing.

The courts in Muktsar district would function through both physical and virtual modes. Advocate Muktsar, District Bar Association, president, Bhupinder Singh Charewan, said: “If the Covid cases rise in the coming days, decision would be taken accordingly. As of now, we are told not to call the clients to the chambers in the court complexes. Only advocate would appear before the Judges from tomorrow and that too after following the Covid protocols.”