The High Court of Karnataka has decided to permit physical filing of new cases on experimental basis during the Nationwide lockdown in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak. The physical filing will be done on an experimental basis on 13th, 14th and 15th of May 2020 from 11.00 a.m. onwards.
The notification has issued several directions that need to be complied with by the Advocates/parties-in-person/Advocates’ clerks who wish to file the matters on these dates:
- Application will have to be made for seeking appointment of the date and time for physical filing of the matters. The applications shall be made on the official e-mail.They will be communicated the date, time and counter number by sending a reply for filing of the matters on the same e-mail id from which requests are received.
- They will have to show a printed copy of e-mail received fixing the date of appointment or a soft copy to the security personnel at the gate. Entry will be allowed from only one gate as notified.
- They will have to undergo medical screening and only those who asymptomatic will be allowed entry.
- They are required to to reach the High Court precincts ten minutes before the scheduled time of appointment. They will have to stand in queue and maintain social distancing while doing so.
- They will be required to wear masks, and no person will be allowed to enter in the High Court precincts without wearing a mask. Safety norms like social distancing, wearing masks, etc must be strictly followed.
- Only 5 matters are to be filed at one time.
Once the filing is accepted, the acknowledgement will be issued on the office copy of presentation form filed in duplicate. The further steps required to be taken for rectification of objection etc will be communicated at the e-mail address or cell phone number mentioned on the presentation form and will also be posted on the official website of the High Court.
The matters that require urgent hearing can be filed on these three days, and a memo will have to be moved for fixing the date by following the procedure that has been set out in notification dated 30th April 2020 published in the official website of the High Court.
Once the filing is complete, the advocates will have to leave the Court precincts and will not be allowed to enter the Court building. They will be allowed entry only for the purpose of physical filing of the matters and only after showing a print out or a soft copy of appointment for filing.
-India Legal Bureau