The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has decided that it shall be resuming physical hearings from July 5, 2021. An order regarding this decision was issued on Wednesday.
The order issued by Registrar General Jawad Ahmad said advocates will be allowed entry into the court premises from July 5 in view of the changing COVID-18 situation.
However, only those advocates and staff members of the high court will be allowed entry who have been vaccinated.
Entry of Clerks and Agents of the advocates into the Courtrooms will continue to be prohibited for the time being.
Entry of the advocates into the Courtrooms shall be regulated case-wise. General entry in Court rooms shall continue to remain prohibited. Only such advocates shall be allowed entry into a Court room, who may be representing a party in a given case up to the maximum of two 2 advocates for each part.
In case a litigant on reasonable grounds is compelled to argue the case personally, he/she will be allowed to do so, it said. He or she will have to apply to registrar or presiding officer, in case of subordinate courts, through email and seek permission for entry into the court premises, it added.
Accused persons and witnesses can be presented before the courts only after strictly following the Covid appropriate behavior, the order said.
The courts may allow an advocate to appear for a hearing virtually if he or she cannot appear in person and the other side has no objection, it further said.
