Imphal: In compliance of the Supreme Court’s order to combat spread of COVID-19 and extension of total lockdown till August 6, High Court of Manipur has issued notification that the regular court sitting for both the High Court and district Courts/Tribunals shall remain suspended till August 8.
However, all Courts in Manipur including the High Court will take up urgent motion cases through video conferencing, the notification said. The court proceedings including special ordered cases shall be done through video conferencing facility. In case the video conferencing is not possible due to any reason, physical court may be conducted by maintaining strict COVID-19 protocol and social distancing on permission, it added.
The video conferencing software will be “Jitsi Meet”. For desktop and laptop, users can join Jitsi Meet video conferencing by simply opening the link sent by the Court end through any browser and has to click the link sent by the Court end.
For the High Court, filing of fresh matters will be accepted email only at hcmefiling@gmail.com pending notification for e-filing which is under process. Hard copies have to be submitted to the Registry after restrictions are relaxed. Any urgent listing for the day or filing of other application/documents, etc., mention by application is to be made before the registry and it will be placed before the Chief Justice for appropriate order. Counsel for the either side can seek hearing of pending case by way of a mention application for listing of old pending cases after serving notice on the other side.
For the district Courts/tribunals, fresh urgent cases will be accepted by email and hard copies shall be submitted later on after restrictions are relaxed. Urgent application can be moved with the permission of the Presiding Judge. Counsels/parties shall file an undertaking to the effect that necessary court fees, sworn affidavit and other documents be submitted after restrictions are relaxed. As far as possible, petition/application filed through email filing shall not exceed 15-20 pages along with important annexures/documents. Complete set shall be submitted later on after restrictions are relaxed, it said.
All urgent motion matters will be listed before the appropriate Bench as assigned by the Chief Justice. In case of district courts/tribunals, mention is to be made before the presiding Judge. In case the advocates need to enter court complexes for any reason, strict social distancing and other covid-19 protocol to be maintained. Litigants and other officials relating to a case can enter court premises only with prior permission of the Court/Presiding Judicial officer.
District and sessions Judges and presiding officers may work out modalities for proper functioning of their respective Courts in consultation with the members of Bar and other stake holders, as may be necessary, it added. Wearing of mask at all time is compulsory in all Court complexes of Manipur. Strict adherence to covid-19 protocol is a must. Normal training programmes of Manipur Judicial Academy which require physical attendance shall remain suspended. However, online training programmes shall be continued during lockdown period without fail, the notification said.
In view of the hardship faced by the common people during the covid-19 pandemic, Manipur State Legal Services Authority shall take up urgent legal services activities at all level, as may be possible. Pending cases fixed for hearing on day-to-day basis up to August 8 shall be adjourned to subsequent dates in respect of High Court and district Courts. The information in this regards is to be uploaded on the website of the district Court. It shall also be pasted on notice board, it added.
The interim orders granted by the High Court for a specified date in pending cases shall be extended till next date of effective hearing. 11. The interim orders granted by the district Courts/Tribunals in pending cases for a specified date shall be extended till next date of effective hearing. Similar arrangements shall be made by all the respective Juvenile Justice boards of the districts.
Attendance of employees in the High Court and the District Courts/Tribunals including digitization and scanning project shall remain suspended. However, officers from superintendent and above shall make themselves available for urgent official works, the notification said
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