MUMBAI: The Mumbai civic chief on Tuesday participated at a meeting at the Bombay high court to discuss possible measures, including hybrid court hearing, given the resurgence of cases.
Iqbal Chahal said Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) could set up four designated centres across the suburbs and south Mumbai for a vaccination drive for lawyers and family members who are over 45 years old from April 2-4.
The chief kustice suggested that such a drive can also be for court staff, clerks and officers, judges of the subordinate court who are 45 plus.
The BMC is likely to give details of a plan in writing on Wednesday to the HC.
The meeting will be held again next on April 5 to decide on further steps for the functioning of the court.
Bombay Bar Association had last week suggested a hybrid route for hearing to reduce footfalls in court.
On Monday, the Bombay Incorporated Law Society, the body of solicitors, also wrote to the HC Chief Justice Dipankar Datta, to request for a hybrid system of virtual and physical hearing due to the rise in
Covid-19 cases and suggested several alternatives like limiting the number of cases for physical matters.
At the meeting, Sanjeev Kadam, president of the Advocates Association of Western India (AAWI), suggested that if need be, the summer vacation may be advanced by a few days and court may reopen early by the corresponding number of days.
He also suggested that BMC conduct antigen tests at the entrance of the HC to which Chahal said it could as well do a vaccination.
The BBA will hold a meeting later this week to work out a response on various possible options that may be submitted on Monday.
The AAWI committee is also expected to meet and discuss the issue with its members before taking a call on its final suggestions.