In view of the Office Memorandum dated 5-03-2020 issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, the advisory issued by the Government of Maharashtra and Notification dated 13-03-2020 issued by Secretary-General, Supreme Court of India as advisory cautioning against mass gathering and as the World Health Organisation has also declared Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) as global pandemic advising against mass congregation and in view of the advisory issued by the Government of India and in view of the opinion of public health experts including medical professionals and also considering the safety and welfare of all the litigants, lawyers, staff members and the parties appearing in-person, security, maintenance and support staff, interns, The Hon’ble Acting Chief Justice is pleased to direct the following :
A)The functioning of the Courts in High Court as well as its Benches functioning at Nagpur, Aurangabad and the High Court of Bombay at Goa presently for a week commencing from Monday, 16-03-2020 shall be restricted to urgent matters.
B) The Advocates, litigants and parties in persons may mention their matters showing the urgency before the concerned Courts and upon satisfaction about the urgency, the Court shall hear such matters. CMIS dates would be given to the rest of the matters. Orders of Ad-interim and interim relief subsisting in the matter shall continue to operate.
C) It is appealed to all the Bar associations and the Advocates that they shall endeavor to restrict the entry of the litigants in the Court and only in cases where the presence is unavoidable, one person may be called.
D) Advocates and Party in person are requested to provide number and stage of matter on daily board which they want to be taken up urgently to the concerned Court Sheristedar/Associate prior to 11.00 a.m. Rest of the matters on the Regular Board shall stand adjourned.
E) Considering the importance of the safety measures for health, all concerned are requested to cooperate with the instructions of the staff on duty, in the interest of all.
Bombay High Court
[Notification dt. 14-03-2020]
