5,469 final judgments rendered, over 6,000 cases disposed of by Allahabad HC during its functioning amid the COVID-19 crisis

The Allahabad High Court has rendered a total of 5,469 final judgments between March 23 and June 5, during the period of its restricted functioning in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis.A Press Note issued by the High Court further intimates that, as per available records with the Registry, A total of 4,951 fresh cases at Allahabad and 2,116 fresh cases at Lucknow, have been instituted during the period between March 23 and June 10.A total of 10,263 cases have been listed. 4,805 cases have been disposed of in Allahabad and 1,380 cases have been disposed of in Lucknow (totalling to 6,185) between, April 1 to June 10, over a period of 44 actual working days. The number of Benches have varied in accordance with the institution of cases. At the start of April, the Court functioning with 7 Benches (6 Single and 1 Division). Over time, this was increased to the present 26 (21 Single and 5 Division Benches) in Allahabad and 19 (15 Single and 4 Division Benches) in Lucknow Bench..It is informed that the Allahabad High Court has been successfully using JITSI Meet software to conduct hearings via video conferencing at Allahabad and its Bench at Lucknow. The first hearing through video conferencing during the COVID-19 lockdown was held on April 15 in PIL No. 569 of 2020..During this time, subordinate courts in the State are also stated to have remained functional throughout to COVID-19 crisis period to hear urgent matters through video conferencing as far as possible..Detailed guidelines were issued to the District Judges regarding mechanisms/ modalities for opening the subordinate courts. .In May, 78,372 applications/ cases have been taken up by these courts of which 24,345 cases/ applications have been decided and 13,657 were dealt though the Virtual Court via JITSI LAN. 59,463 of these were matters related to judicial remand of undertrial prisoners..On safety measures being deployed at the High Court.Guidelines were issued from time to time by the High Court's Chief Justice to ensure the safety and the smooth functioning of the justice delivery mechanism during the Court's functioning during the lockdown..Lawyers above the age of 65 years have been requested to refrain from physical hearings and the staff suffering from critical health conditions have not been assigned duties during this critical period, it is informed..Physical filing of petitions were resumed on June 3. As per the latest notifications, the entry into the Court premises continues to be regulated, with all entrants being permitted only after thermal screening at the gates, where handwashing facilities have also been provided. .Automated touch-free thermal check machines with automated sanitizer dispensation have been set up at various points inside the High Court campus as well. .Foot-operated sanitizer dispenser machines are also functional along the pathways and corridors inside the premises. .The norms of social/ physical distancing continue to be followed. Only a requisite number of the staff are on any particular day with all protective measures such as face masks, face shields, gloves, sanitizers etc, the High Court's note informs. .Hearing in both physical and e-modes has been permitted since June 8. However, entry inside the Court rooms is limited to a maximum of 6 counsels at a time. .Consumption of paan, gutka and tobacco products has been prohibited entirely. .The Advocates’ chambers and the canteens are not open for use. Regular sanitization of the court campus and a bi-weekly deep sanitization of the premises has been scheduled and is undertaken thoroughly. .Approximately 12 teams of doctors and medical staff, as well as two ambulances, are on rounds throughout the campus of the High Court at any given time of the day to deal with any exigency that may arise. .To uphold the norms of social/ physical distancing, there have been e-inaugurations of courtrooms, chambers, offices, locker rooms, public toilets by the Chief Justice for districts of Jhansi, Chitrakoot and Chandauli, respectively..Read the Press Note: