"When the State itself has thought it fit to open up almost all the commercial activities, finding the present period to be now safe, your Lordship may be kind enough to accept the request of the Bar", the letter states.
As the State of Gujarat begins to relax COVID-19 restrictions, President of the Gujarat High Court Advocates' Association (GHCAA), Yatin Oza has addressed a letter to Chief Justice Vikram Nath urging for the physical re-opening of the Court while following all required safety measures.
The letter notes that almost 64% of about 800 lawyers who participated in a poll on the issue had expressed support for the physical functioning of the Court, whereas the 36% opined that the virtual functioning should continue. This is discounting the lawyers who were unable to participate in the poll, it is noted.
Oza adds that he can safely convey that of 2,400 lawyers whose practice is ordinarily in the High Court, around 1,800 advocates had expressed support for the resumption of physical courts with all safety measures that may be imposed by the Court.
The request has been made in the backdrop of the Gujarat State administration permitting "almost all commercial activities including opening of malls and hospitality sector apart from place of worship" with the end of the fourth phase of the national lockdown.
As such, Oza has urged, "I earnestly request to your Lordship to please be good enough to start the physical functioning of the court at the earliest."
It is also emphasised,
He adds, "Since I have been a Legislator once upon a time, I know that people visiting Sachivalaya only from one district out of 33 districts, are far more than the people attending the High Court from the entire State and if Sachivalaya is opened up, I personally feel that there is no harm in opening up the High Court by way of physical hearing with whatever restrictions your Lordships deem fit and proper including prohibiting the entry of litigants ."
On a concluding note, Oza has also referred to a webinar on the physical resumption of courts delivered by Dr Urman Dhruv, while suggesting that the same be perused by the judges of the High Court.
