Taking stock of the prevailing situation arising out of extension of nationwide lockdown announced by the central government, the Manipur High Court has issued a notice on extending the suspension of all normal sittings of the high court and district courts till July 7.
A notice issued by the Registrar General on Wednesday stated that all courts of Manipur, including High Court will take up motion and urgent pending cases and will work up to 1 pm during lockdown period till July 7. As far as practicable, court proceedings will be taken up through video conferencing facility as per guideline issued by High Court. However, in case video conferencing is not possible due to any reason, physical court may be conducted by maintaining strict covid-19 protocol and social distancing, said the notice.
For the High Court, filing of fresh matters will be accepted at filing counters of the Registry as hard copy. As far as practicable, cases received up to 1 pm will be listed on the next working day. For filling of other matters or application or documents and hearing thereof, permission of the justice shall be required. For the district courts or tribunal, hard copy filing will be accepted along with soft copy.
All motion matters will be listed before the High Court and district courts or tribunal and will be distributed equally amongst judges for the High Court and judges of the district courts or tribunal. For urgent pending cases, the same may be taken up with the permission of chief justice or presiding officer. However, if both parties move a joint application for taking up any pending case, the same will be considered for listing, said the notice.
In case any of the advocates are required to enter court complexes for any purpose, they should maintain strict social distancing and other covid-19 protocol. No litigants and other officials will be permitted to enter court premises without prior permission of the court, the notice added.
District courts or tribunal may take up pending cases which are specially directed and time bound trails subject to strict adherence to covdi-19 protocol. District judges and presiding officers may work out modalities for proper functioning of their respective courts in consultation with bar and other stakeholders. Wearing a mask is compulsory in all court complexes of Manipur at all times with maintenance and adherence to strict covid-19 protocol.
Till July 7, the lawyers can attend court and related works without curfew pass after 2 pm subject to production of identity card issued by Bar Council of Manipur or Association in terms of the office memorandum of state government.
Normal training programmes of Manipur Judicial Academy which require physical attendance shall remain suspended till July 7. However, the online training programme shall be continued during the lockdown period.
Normal programme of Manipur State Legal Services Authority will be suspended during this period except necessary and urgent legal services activities matters and functioning of “Front officers” of legal services authorities.
The matters which are already fixed up to July 7 be adjourned en-bloc to subsequent date and information will be uploaded on the websites of the district courts and pasted on notice board.
The interim orders granted earlier by High Court and district courts or tribunal for a specific date will be extended till the next date of effective hearing. Similar arrangements will be made by all the respective Juvenile Justice Boards of the districts, stated the notice.
