Aurangabad, April 17:
The Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, Dipankar Datta has ordered all the state's district and sessions courts and other lower courts in their jurisdictions to render justice in one session, of two and a half hours, from Monday. The precautionary measure has been taken, to conduct a hearing upon important cases, during the ongoing pandemic situation in the state due to Covid-19.
Accordingly, the Registrar General of the High Court, S G Dighe issued a circular on April 16 stating that all the courts to start functioning in one session from April 19. The courts will conduct hearings on cases relating to remand, bail applications or criminal and civil cases in two and a half hours. The principal district judge has been authorised to call the required judges and 50 per cent of court staff (on a rotation basis) on duty. The timings have to be decided as per the local level situation. Meanwhile, all the judges are also told not to leave the headquarter without permission of the principal district judge.
The order also recommends giving final order or verdict on the cases whose hearings and arguments had been completed. All the courts will remain closed on Saturdays except for remand or urgent cases. The order also underlines not to issue strict order if any lawyer, party, witnesses or the accused remains absent at the hearings during this pandemic period. The canteen and barroom on the campus should be kept closed and the safety guidelines issued by the union and the State governments should be followed strictly, stated the circular.