The High Court of Telangana issued a press note on Tuesday stating that it has resolved to cancel summer vacation both for the High Court as well as the Subordinate Courts and all Courts in the State shall continue to function till 5th June, 2020.
The press note says that a Full court meeting with the Judges was held on Tuesday through Video Conferencing in the presence of Advocate General, Chairman of Bar Council and President of the High Court’s Association. The Court also invited Dr. K. Shankar, Director, Institute of Preventive Medicine, Hyderabad to have an overview about the prevailing condition of COVID-19 in the State.
The High Court resolution said “Considering the fact that the lockdown may be lifted in a phased manner and 100% opening of the courts may lead to congregation of the people in the court premises, the Full Court has resolved to continue the present arrangement with regard to the functioning of the High Court and the District Courts till April 30, 2020.”
It was decided that only extreme urgent matters such as bail applications, stay applications and fresh admissions such as PIL will be taken up in the High Court whereas the District Courts will entertain extremely urgent criminal and civil matters such as bail applications, remand, extension of remand, interim injunctions etc.
The press note further stated that the situation will be reviewed on 25th of April, 2020.
Earlier, the Supreme Court on Monday said that in order to maintain social distancing, the Court had the power to restrict entry inside Courtrooms and had asked the High Courts to devise modalities and conduct hearings through video conferencing amid COVID-19 Pandemic. Directions were also issued to the trial courts to make arrangements for litigants unable to access the facility of video-conferencing.
-India Legal Bureau