Madras high court to reopen on June 1; judges to attend court but hearing to be held through videoconfere – Times of India

Madras high court

CHENNAI: After more than six weeks lockdown, the Madras high court has decided to function to its full capacity from June 1. But there is a catch: Only judges will occupy the court halls/chambers, and the proceedings will happen only through videoconferencing. That is, bar on lawyers to enter the court premises both for filing and arguing cases will continue.
An internal circular of the court informed judges that it had been decided to move towards ‘staggered functioning’ of the court and that all 33 benches of the court would commence from the respective court halls ‘through videoconferencing’.
A decision to this effect was taken by the administrative committee of the high court and it comes three days after Supreme Court judge Justice D Y Chandrachud inaugurated the virtual courts. A computer committee headed by Justice T S Sivagnanam of the Madras high court has put together a virtual court system, which will facilitate the videoconferencing proceedings from June 1 onwards.
However, since the Madras high court premises is located close to Covid-19 hotstpot of Royapuram, it has raised issues relating to safety of judges, court employees and others without whom proceedings cannot be held. Top lawyers and Bar associations have been demanding resumption of regular court, with adequate precaution.