Allahabad high court resumes working after 2 month closure

Rajesh Kumar Pandey | TNN | Updated: Jun 9, 2020, 19:06 IST

High court staff checking visitors and conducting thermal check before allowing them to enter the premises on Monday

High court staff checking visitors and conducting thermal check before allowing them to enter the premises on ...Read More

PRAYAGRAJ: Working in Allahabad High Court and its Lucknow Bench resumed on Monday after a two-month closure due to Covid-19 lockdown.
Earlier, during closure, the cases were heard only through video conferencing. Now, with the opening of high courts, physical courts have resumed functioning adhering to social distancing norms and other measures to check spread of deadly coronavirus. Physical filing of cases had already commenced from June 3, 2020.
On Monday, all those advocates whose cases were listed in the court were permitted entry into the campus after verification of e-passes and proper thermal scanning and sanitization.
Keeping in view the present scenario created due to spread of coronavirus, only six advocates are permitted to remain inside the courtroom at any given time. As soon as the hearing of their cases was completed, the advocates had to leave the campus of the court. In addition to physical courts, the advocates have also been provided the facility of arguing their cases through video conferencing, if so needed. However, the chambers of all advocates shall remain closed so as to ensure proper social distancing.
Automatic thermal scanner and sanitizer dispensing machines have been installed at all important points of the high court.
Moreover, ambulances as well as medical staff have been directed to stay in alert mode so that any medical urgency may be dealt with immediately. Narrating Monday’s experience, a high court lawyer, whose case was listed before the court, said “it was really a nice experience working in an all-together new environment”.
He further added that while entering from main gate (gate number three), the process of thermal scanning as well as the process of sanitization was made, which was really commendable.
“In addition to it, the sanitization machines have been installed in the court’s corridor. It was nice working in a very light and stress free environment while keeping a certain distance throughout the court proceedings and even outside it,” he added.