Jammu, Mar 26 In view declaration of lock down of 21 days by the Government of India and the closure of the Government offices by the Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Justice J&K High Court Gita Mittal on Thursday ordered that access to all the Court complexes of the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, including the High Court complexes at Srinagar and Jammu shall remain closed during the period of the lockdown April 14.
In the circular issued by Registrar General Sanjay Dhar that the Judicial Officers, the Officers and staff of the registry and the staff of the District Courts shall remain available at all times at their respective residences to deal with any business of emergent nature. Any urgent business shall be transacted on the virtual mode,” the circular reads. The officers and the staff, it said, shall strictly follow the advisories and instructions regarding prevention of spread of Corona Virus (Covid19) infection issued by the Government from time to time.
The Principal District and Sessions Judges have been asked to make arrangements for hearing of any exceptionally urgent Civil or Criminal matters from the residence of the Judicial Officers who shall be designated by the concerned District and Sessions Judge for the purpose, the circular reads.
It is further directed that “Hearings shall be on the virtual mode only”.
Chief Justice, as per the circular, has also directed that all orders and instructions of the Government of India and Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir regarding social distancing, restrictions, precautions, quarantine, isolation etc shall be strictly complied with.
