SEKAR REPORTER

Court News from Madras High Court

P. S. AMALRAJ CHAIRMAN, BAR COUNCIL–letter to cj–Sub: 1) Request to Defer the notification of postponement of vacation to Subordinate Courts. 2) Continue the present setup in all courts due to Covid -19 3) extend the video conferencing facility to all Subordinate Courts during the Pandemic period -Reg. Ref :Our letter dated 16.03.2020

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To
The Hon’ble Chief Justice,
Madras High Court,
Chennai -600104.
My Lord,
Sub: 1) Request to Defer the notification of postponement of vacation to
Subordinate Courts. 2) Continue the present setup in all courts due to Covid -19
3) extend the video conferencing facility to all Subordinate Courts during
the Pandemic period -Reg.
Ref :Our letter dated 16.03.2020
The Hon’ble High Court of Madras has announced vide it’s Notification No. 47 of 2020 dated 18.04.2020,that in view of the limited nature of the functioning of the High Court, the Summer Vacation of the Madras High Court and Madurai Bench will be postponed sine die, to compensate for the lost working days . The Hon’ble High Court has also clarified that the High Court will function regularly from 1st May 2020 to 31st May 2020. Furthermore , The Hon’ble High Court of Madras vide it’s Official Memorandum dated 18.04.2020 has passed the same order , with regard to Subordinate Courts also .
Already on behalf of the Bar, we have expressed the practical difficulties in conducting cases in Subordinate Courts during this pandemic situation . When normalcy has not been restored and the Lock down being extended, the decision to function from 1st MAY is not feasible as the health related threat still subsists. The Corona Virus scare which happened recently in the Madras High Court premises, clearly shows the capacity of the pathogen to create panic and fear. A few of such future occurences in the Hon'ble High Court premises, are enough to infect the whole legal fraternity, including the Hon'ble Judges ,staffs and others.
The Subordinate Courts also does not have proper facilities to conduct the Court Proceedings safely . When the Government of India has not stated that normalcy has been restored and the recovery has not reached satisfactory levels,the Bar council request that it is in public interest to conduct court proceedings only through video conferencing and hear urgent matters only till Covid -19 pandemic is over . We have also received representations from several Bar/Advocate Associations in this regard .
Hence, we request the Hon’ble High Court of Madras to make video conference facilities in all Subordinate Courts with the help of Government of Tamilnadu and Puducherry and conduct all Proceedings through video conferencing until normalcy is restored in these testing times in all Subordinate Courts by considering the welfare of the legal fraternity.
Thanking You.
Your’s faithfully,
P. S. AMALRAJ
CHAIRMAN, BAR COUNCIL

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