District judiciary in Karnataka will revert to normal functioning from January 18 on an experimental basis. .The decision was arrived at by the Karnataka High Court after taking into account the considerable improvement in COVID-19 cases in the State..However, in seven districts namely, Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapura, DK Mangaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga, and Tumakuru, where there are more than 200 active COVID-19 cases, the Special Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which is in force will continue. ."Normal functioning of the Courts as (it) existed prior to March 15, 2020 in all the districts except the aforesaid seven districts, is restored," a modified SOP issued in this regard said..District courts in the State are currently following a combination of physical and virtual hearings. With the current decision, physical functioning will resume in all districts except the seven excluded ones. .As per the modified SOP, normal functioning of the courts will be subject to the following conditions:.Every person who enters the court premises shall be subjected to thermal scanning and checking on COVID-19 symptoms. Those having symptoms of COVID-19 shall not be allowed entry inside the court Complexes.Wherever it is possible, two separate entrances (with sanitizers) shall be provided to the court complexes, one entrance for the Lawyers as well as staff Members and the other one, for the Litigants, witnesses and others.Use of elevators/lifts shall be restricted to 50% of the capacity. Wearing of masks is compulsory in the court rooms, Bar Association Premises, offices as well as in the court compound. Anybody found not wearing mask shall be immediately required to leave the premises.Advocates, Litigants, Witnesses, Police personnel etc., shall maintain social distancing in the Court premises, offices, Bar Association Premises as well as in the court rooms. In order to avoid congestion in the premises of the Bar Associations, the restriction of removing half of the chairs inside the premises of the Bar Associations shall continue.The daily cause list shall be divided into two parts. One will be for the morning session and the other will be for the afternoon session, in order to avoid the footfall of litigants at a time in the Court Halls and Court Premises. However, all cases which are due shall be listed.The present arrangement made for filing of cases outside the offices shall continue..The modified SOP further states that it is the responsibility of lawyers to ensure that the litigants are not unnecessarily called to visit the courts/court premises. The members of the Bar should ensure that their clients visit the court only if their presence is mandatory..That being said, the SOP also makes it abundantly clear that the court officials reserve the right to refuse entry to a litigant if it is found that he or she has come to visit the court without any reason. .[Read SOP]
District judiciary in Karnataka will revert to normal functioning from January 18 on an experimental basis. .The decision was arrived at by the Karnataka High Court after taking into account the considerable improvement in COVID-19 cases in the State..However, in seven districts namely, Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapura, DK Mangaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga, and Tumakuru, where there are more than 200 active COVID-19 cases, the Special Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which is in force will continue. ."Normal functioning of the Courts as (it) existed prior to March 15, 2020 in all the districts except the aforesaid seven districts, is restored," a modified SOP issued in this regard said..District courts in the State are currently following a combination of physical and virtual hearings. With the current decision, physical functioning will resume in all districts except the seven excluded ones. .As per the modified SOP, normal functioning of the courts will be subject to the following conditions:.Every person who enters the court premises shall be subjected to thermal scanning and checking on COVID-19 symptoms. Those having symptoms of COVID-19 shall not be allowed entry inside the court Complexes.Wherever it is possible, two separate entrances (with sanitizers) shall be provided to the court complexes, one entrance for the Lawyers as well as staff Members and the other one, for the Litigants, witnesses and others.Use of elevators/lifts shall be restricted to 50% of the capacity. Wearing of masks is compulsory in the court rooms, Bar Association Premises, offices as well as in the court compound. Anybody found not wearing mask shall be immediately required to leave the premises.Advocates, Litigants, Witnesses, Police personnel etc., shall maintain social distancing in the Court premises, offices, Bar Association Premises as well as in the court rooms. In order to avoid congestion in the premises of the Bar Associations, the restriction of removing half of the chairs inside the premises of the Bar Associations shall continue.The daily cause list shall be divided into two parts. One will be for the morning session and the other will be for the afternoon session, in order to avoid the footfall of litigants at a time in the Court Halls and Court Premises. However, all cases which are due shall be listed.The present arrangement made for filing of cases outside the offices shall continue..The modified SOP further states that it is the responsibility of lawyers to ensure that the litigants are not unnecessarily called to visit the courts/court premises. The members of the Bar should ensure that their clients visit the court only if their presence is mandatory..That being said, the SOP also makes it abundantly clear that the court officials reserve the right to refuse entry to a litigant if it is found that he or she has come to visit the court without any reason. .[Read SOP]
