The High Court of Gauhati has modified Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the Principal Seat, considering the rapid surge in Covid cases.
The Notification issued by the High Court has notified that “In partial modification of Notification No. 01 dated 05.01.2022 and Notification No. 2 dated 06.01.2022, the Hon'ble Gauhati High Court has been pleased to issue the consolidated guidelines with respect to the Principal Seat of the Gauhati High Court.”
The following guidelines are as follows:
1. The Courts shall function in virtual mode, so as to avoid footfalls and to maintain social distancing. However, as an exception, only those lawyers, whose names appear in the cause lis(vakalatnama and who will appear in the case, and who do not have online facility; and the Government Advocates, who may have to refer to the records in the Court, may be allowed to appear ftom the High Court premises. Such lawyers, who have no online facility, shall give in writing to that effect to the Registrar (Judicial) in the dedicated email address vcadvocate.ghc@gmail.com.
2. The petitioners-in-person, members of staff. security staff, etc. having taken both the doses of COVID-1g vaccine, shall be allowed to enter the High Court premises. Provided, persons who have taken single dose of Covid-19 vaccine shall be allowed to enter only on the condition that they furnish a negative report of the RT-PCR test conducted within 48 hours from the date of such entry.
3. Only limited number of cases wlll be listed. Mention may be made on the mention form for urgent listing of cases (at ANNEXURE - I) either offline or online at the dedicated e-mall IDs for mentioning cases (at ANNEXURE - II) showing the urgency before the concerned Courts. The Court, only on being satisfied that the matter is of urgent nature, shall direct for listing such cases also.
4. Compulsory wearing of masks and maintaining social distancing is mandatory within the premises of the High Court.
5. In the old Block of the High Court, only Gate No. 4 shall be made for ingress and Gate No. 1 for egress. In the new building of the High Court, only Gate No.
6 shall be used for ingress and egress. 6. Lawyers (as referred to in clause 1), petitioners-in-person, members of staff, security staff, etc. entering in the High Court premises, shall be subjected to medical screening before entry In the new as well as old High Court buildings.
7. Bar rooms shall remain open to only such lawyers mentioned in clause 1 by adhering to Covid-19 up to date protocols issued by the Government and the Gauhati High Court. The Bar Associations shall give an undertaking to the Registrar (Administration) that all Covid-19 protocols shall be maintained and that they shall be responsible for adhering to the Covid-lg guidelines issued by the Government and the Gauhati High Court.
8. Lawyers shall leave the Bar rooms after completion of their work and in no case shall they remain in the Bar rooms for more than 2 hours. 9. Canteens in both the new and old High Court buildings shall operate in a restricted mode with only take-away facility.
10. Cases filed physically shall be kept under quarantine for at least 2 (two) days before being listed. Very urgent listing will be allowed provided softcopy is submitted/filed.
With regard to the Outlying Benches, the senior most Judge in the Station shall take a decision regarding opting for virtual/hybrid mode in respect of the Bench and Subordinate Courts of that State, with due consultation/approval of Hon’ble the Chief Justice.
These guidelines shall come into effect immediately and shall remain in force until further orders.
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