[Coronavirus] Jammu and Kashmir HC uses SMS to disseminate information, spread awareness among lawyers, litigants

The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir is using Short Message Service (SMS) as one of the modes for disseminating information and spreading awareness among lawyers as well as litigants about the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic..The press release issued in this regard states that at the time of filing of a case before the High Court as well as District Courts, the mobile numbers and email IDs of the respective lawyers and litigants are to be provided to the Courts, which would subsequently be entered into the Courts' database..Progress of a particular case at every stage is then automatically pushed through SMS on the numbers and email IDs provided by the lawyers and litigants..It has been intimated that till date, around 1,89,000 SMSes have been sent by the High Court as well as by District Courts of Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh to lawyers and litigants with information regarding the coronavirus..The information being conveyed through the SMSes includes advisories, guidelines and helplines issued by the World Health Organisation, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Health and Medical Education Department of J&K..The unique initiative is being implemented by the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir to sensitise lawyers and litigants on the Coronavirus pandemic, especially those residing in far flung areas.