Courts in Jammu & Kashmir to resume physical hearings from July 5, entry only for fully vaccinated

Physical hearings will resume from July 5, 2021 in the Jammu and Kashmir High Court and subordinate courts, districts courts and tribunals in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh after 3 months of virtual hearings..However, only those advocates who are fully vaccinated will be allowed inside the court premises. .In this regard, an order was issued by the Registrar General of J&K High Court Jawad Ahmed on Wednesday.."Keeping in view the latest SOPs of the Government of India and Government of UT of Jammu and Kashmir relating to relaxation in restrictions regarding containment of COVID-19 and also the considerable decline in daily number of COVID-19 cases, in modification of the previous orders/circulars on the subject issued by the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir from time to time, the physical hearing of the cases in the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir as well as in the District and Subordinate courts and Tribunals in the UTs of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh shall resume with effect from July 5, 2021..." the order said..Entry of the advocates into court premises shall be regulated case wise and general entry of lawyers to court rooms will continue to remain prohibited, it added. Only such advocates shall be allowed entry into a court room, who may be representing a party in a given case subject to maximum of two advocates for each party, it added..Entry of clerks and agents of the advocates into court rooms shall continue to be prohibited for the time being.The entry of witnesses and accused persons shall, however, be permitted in district and subordinate courts subject to strict compliance with latest SOPs pertaining to the containment of Covid-19 and vaccination..Apart from it, the entry of litigants and public into the court premises from the very outer gate shall continue to be prohibited. If, however, any litigant on any reasonable ground is compelled to argue his case personally, he shall be allowed entry into the court premises subject to the condition that he/she makes an application at least two days prior to the date of hearing through e-mail to the Registrar Judicial/Presiding Officer of the Court disclosing such compelling reasons and seeking permission in that regard..For the time being, advocates are free to file their cases, applications etc. , either physically or by virtual mode, the order added.