Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Thursday (February 18) decided to resume physical hearings, February 22. However, virtual hearing of cases will also continue on a rotation basis, it informed.
The decision has been taken keeping in view of the present situation of the considerable decline in Corona cases and the Centre’s latest guidelines. With the state government also relaxing the COVID-19 restrictions, and after due deliberations with all the stakeholders including the High Court Advocates Association, the decision was taken.
The SOP issued in this regard states, inter alia, is that no one with the symptoms of cough, fever, running nose, people with less immunity and people without wearing masks, will be allowed to enter the High Court premises.
Also, the advocates have been informed that wearing of their gowns while appearing physically in the Courts is dispensed with for the time being. However, they shall wear coats and bands.
Further, all the subordinate courts in Telangana, except those in the Hyderabad Judicial District (Units of City Civil Court, Metropolitan Sessions Courts, CBJ Courts, City Small Causes Courts and Tribunals), the courts in Ranga Reddy district headquarters at L.B.Nagar and the courts at Malkajgiri and Kukatpally, shall start regular functioning February 22, as per the practice and procedure prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The High Court also directed the Principal District and Sessions Judges of the concerned Judicial Districts to ensure that all the latest guidelines/instructions regarding COVID-19 issued by the central/state governments.
The courts in the Hyderabad Judicial District, namely City Civil Courts, Metropolitan Sessions Courts, CBI Courts, City Small Causes Courts and Tribunals will start working March 1.