Administration of The Bombay high court (HC) decided to shift to a “hybrid” mode of hearing from January 4, 2022, in view of the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Maharashtra.
The decision to switch to hybrid hearings was taken in the meeting chaired by Justice Amjad Sayed. Representatives of various bar associations in Maharashtra and from the civic body were also present for the meeting.
The court is currently on its winter break and will resume its full schedule on January 4 in the form of virtual and physical hearings. Entry of litigants and lawyers will be restricted.
The decision will however, apply only to the principal seat of the court, in Mumbai, and for four days - till January 7 - after which the court administration will review the situation.
Restricting the number of people allowed for physical hearings, the SOP states that only the advocate on record, senior counsel, and a registered clerk to carry bulky files would be allowed entry.
During the virtual hearing, litigants can only enter the premises of the court if they are ordered to remain present. However, lawyers are allowed to argue their cases in the courtroom in person before the judge.
Court officials said that the HC benches at Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Goa will continue to hear matters in physical mode, as the prevalence of Covid cases is higher in Mumbai than the other cities.
This development comes on the back of an increasing number of Covid-19 cases and Omicron infections across Maharashtra. On January 2, the state reported 11,877 fresh Covid-19 cases, 2,707 more than the day before, and 50 Omicron infections. Of the 11,877 cases, 7,792 were from Mumbai.
The administrative committee is expected to review the situation at the end of the next week and make a decision with respect to the lower judiciary.