MARGAO
As directed under the Standard Operating Procedure issued by the High Court, all the courts in South Goa district will start regular functioning from December 1 in two shifts.
In a circular issued by District Judge-1 and Additional Sessions Judge Edgar P Fernandes, the judicial working hours in each shift will be two and half hours (from 11 am to 1.30 pm and 2 pm to 4.30 pm) with 100 per cent presence of judicial officers and the staff in each shift.
The circular further stated that on each shift, the office working hours will be from 10 am to 1.30 am and from 2 pm to 5 pm with 100 per cent presence of the staff.
The circular states that cases fixed for evidence may be preferably taken up in the first shift and cases which are fixed for judgement and order or hearing of arguments in the second shift.
The judicial officers may not pass any adverse order owing to the absence of advocates, parties, witnesses or the accused persons.
Only those advocates, witnesses, accused persons and party in person, whose matters are listed on that day’s board or whose presence is required by the court for any specific purpose like verification, etc, will be permitted to have access to the court building. No one should enter the court hall unless their matter is called out and shall leave the premises as soon as hearing of their case/work is over.
As far as the safety precautions and measures are concerned, the circular states that all persons entering the court premises should compulsorily wear face mask covering the nose and mouth (including at the time of arguments or giving evidence) and shall also observe social/physical distancing norms as set out time to time by the High Court, central government and state government regarding precautions to be taken to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Persons who may have symptoms of Covid-19 shall not be permitted to enter the court premises.
Bar rooms, advocates’ chambers, bar library, canteens, photocopying room/section shall remain open subject to adherence to all the safety norms.
The circular says it shall be the responsibility of the concerned bar associations in coordination with the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa to ensure that due precautions are taken to avoid the spread of Covid-19.
If advocates or litigants are found violating the guidelines, the Principal District Judge/Head of the Establishment shall bring it to the notice of the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa and respective bar associations under intimation to High Court by e-mail on [email protected] and may take such action as he/she deems fit and proper.
The SOP will remain in force until further orders.
