[COVID-19] Calcutta High Court to resume physical hearings from March 7

The Calcutta High Court has notified that it will begin physical hearings starting Monday, March 7..The notice states that things will go back to the way they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, with an exception that virtual mode shall also be available to senior lawyers over 65 years of age or lawyers with co-morbidities.The virtual hearing option shall be made available on complying with the following conditions: (i) As and when the case is called on, a request may be made to the court by a lawyer to appear virtually citing any of the above circumstances;(ii) Thereupon the Court on being satisfied may grant leave to the lawyer to appear virtually;(iii) A link for that purpose may be requested for by the learned lawyer and provided to him by the Registry in advance of the hearing of the case. (iv) A lawyer making a request to appear virtually should ensure that his junior is physically present in court, in case leave to appear virtually is refused by the court;(v) Not more than 20 lawyers shall be allowed in the court room at a particular point of time;(vi) The High Court and the District courts shall revert back to the norms regarding dress code for the Judges and Lawyers followed prior to the covid pandemic..The notification states that Court timings will be between 10:30 AM to 1 PM and 2 PM to 4:30 PM.Filing may be made by electronic mode or physically. Suitable number of rooms or counters will be made available for physical filing..It further said that all the Bar rooms may be opened. Office bearers of the bar associations will have to ensure that only those lawyers who have cases in court attend and that others are persuaded not to come to court, to avoid unnecessary crowding. They will also have to ensure that members who enter the court premises wear masks and comply with applicable COVID-19 norms at all times..The above directions will also apply to the subordinate judiciary, including the City Civil Court, Calcutta; City Sessions Court, Calcutta and Presidency Small Causes Court, Calcutta; as far as practicable. .[Read notification]