A user guide has also been provided along with the order, for submitting consent for physical hearing of matters.
The Gujarat High Court has issued an order notifying that it will begin physical hearings from September 14.
While initiating steps for resumption of physical functioning in a phased manner, it has been notified that the following benches would be set up:
One Division Bench to take up in-jail conviction appeals i.e. of which the appellant convict(s) are presently in jail
Two or three Single Judge Benches for in-jail conviction appeals i.e. of which the appellant convict(s) are presently in jail, and
One Single Judge Bench for oldest pending civil matters and other civil matter where stay/injunction is granted and LAR/MACP first appeals.
The Division Bench set up for conviction appeals will take up matters registered up to the year 2014, while the Single Judge Benches will hear appeals registered upto the year 2018.
The following categories of civil matters will be included in the civil weekly running board:
Matters from list of 500 pending oldest civil matters for Single Judge Benches published on High Court website
Where the proceedings in the courts below have been stayed
First appeals in land acquisition cases and motor accident claim petitions.
The notification states,
"The Civil Weekly running board will be published in advance by Friday of every preceding week and any request for adjournment will not be entertained except in exceptional circumstances if and as may be considered by the concerned Bench."
The High Court has further issued the following guidelines for hearing of criminal matters:
Advocates for appellant(s) to submit consent for their in-jail criminal appeals to be taken up in physical mode through the physical hearing consent module from the Case-Status link of the High Court website or directly through a link.
Based on the consent received, a weekly running board will be prepared in the order of age of the matters to be listed during the week. Such board will be published by Friday of the every preceding week.
No request for adjournment will be entertained as the criminal appeals are being listed with sufficient prior notice and with consent of the appellant side parties.
The list of criminal appeals for which consent has been received will be shared with office of the Public Prosecutor by September 7. The consent on the part of the State to conduct the appeals will be deemed in all listed appeals save in exceptional circumstances if and as may be allowed by the concerned Bench.
Consent on the part of Complainant [Informant/victim] side will not be a pre-requisite to conduct the matter in physical mode, however the complainant side will be allowed to participate in the hearing subject to their co-operation in proceeding with the hearing.
A user guide has also been provided along with the order, for submitting consent for physical hearing of matters.
Read the Order here.
