The Madras High Court on Saturday issued a circular directing its employees residing in various parts of the state where complete lockdown is announced by the government, to carry out their duties and communicate via video conferencing so as to minimise the risk of spread of COVID-19.
The circular is issued under the instructions of Chief Justice of the Madras High Court reads as, in view of the impending threat of the spread of the Novel Corona Virus and complete lockdown announced by the State Government in five Corporations of the State, viz., (1) Chennai, (2) Madurai and (3) Coimbatore from 6.00 a.m. of 26th of April 2020 to 9.00 p.m. of 29th of April, 2020, and in (4) Salem and (5) Tiruppur Corporations from 6.00 a.m. of 26th of April 2020 to 9.00 p.m. of 28th of April, 2020, it may not be possible to allow the physical movement of employees for attending duties, as that would involve unnecessary risks and may inadvertently result in impeding the lockdown declaration made by the Government.
Even though Courts are still exempted, yet, any judicial or administrative function of the Courts shall henceforth for the period of four days, viz. from 26th of April, 2020 to 29th of April, 2020 be carried out through video-conferencing or any such communication facilities only. There shall be no physical movement of the staff for these four days. The Registrars, Private Secretaries or other staff, if required, may communicate through video-conferencing or Whats App Calls, said the circular.
The Subordinate Courts and their employees of the above said corporations are also required to work via video conferencing and have to restrict physical movements to the court premises in order to prevent the spread of novel corona virus.
-India Legal Bureau