[COVID-19] Civil matters at Bombay High Court to be heard virtually, criminal matters to be heard physically

In view of the spike in COVID-19 cases in the State, the administrative committee of the Bombay High Court has decided that criminal matters will be heard physically at the Principal Bench, while civil matters will be heard virtually..The decision was arrived at by the committee after a meeting held today with various stakeholders. The arrangement will take effect from Wednesday, April 7 and continue till April 30..Matters from the criminal side jurisdiction, which includes bail applications, anticipatory bail applications, petitions under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and criminal revision applications, amongst others, will be heard physically.Matters pertaining to the civil side jurisdiction of the High Court will be taken up for hearing through video conference..The committee has decided that only urgent hearing matters will be listed, and litigants will not be permitted inside the court premises unless specifically directed to appear..The First Bench led by Chief Justice Dipankar Datta has indicated that it is likely to switch to hybrid hearings. The Bench led by Justice SS Shinde will continue hearing matters virtually..Earlier today, it was notified that the Bench headed by Justice Gautam Patel will hear matters only by video conferencing..In related news, the Maharashtra government on Sunday issued a fresh government resolution directing "all private offices to remain closed except for certain offices which were exempted."Advocate General for Maharashtra Ashutosh Kumbhakoni said during today's meeting that the offices of lawyers, attorneys and senior advocates will also be exempted from the list and therefore allowed to remain open even during the lockdown re-imposed in the State..A decision was also taken for the district and magistrate courts in Maharashtra. They have been directed to work in two shifts for two hours each. The courts are to list only urgent matters and no adverse order can be passed in matters where lawyers fail to appear..The Chief Justice had indicated on March 30 that the High Court is likely to take a decision on hybrid hearings by the end of this week..COVID vaccination drive for Bombay High Court judges, lawyers, spouses, staff this weekend; decision on hybrid hearing deferred till April 5.The Bombay Bar Association had strongly batted for hybrid hearings, but the proposal was opposed by others at the meeting. Eventually no decision came to be made and the issue was deferred till April 5..[Read the notification dated April 5, 2021 for all subordinate courts here].[Read the GR of the Maharashtra Government dated April 4, 2021 here]