Lower courts to work in one shift till June 30 in Mumbai

MUMBAI: Modifying the standard operating procedure (SOP) issued for lower courts in light of the coronavirus pandemic, the principal judge of sessions court on Saturday ordered that they will work only in one sitting with limited judges from 11am to 2pm till June 30.
Earlier this month, as per the high court directions, courts were functioning in two shifts, with the seco-nd session ending at 5.30pm.
The circular issued by principal judge MW Chandwani iterated that courts will hear only urgent matters and added that the rest of the provisions from the SOP will continue like those attending courts should wear masks and follow hygiene practices and social distancing. On June 9, citing the deaths of advocates due to Covid-19, the Bombay City Civil and Sessions Court Bar Association had written to the HC chief justice requesting him not to start physical courts for now.