Cuttack: Physical hearing of cases in all Subordinate Courts and Tribunals of the State will begin from February 15.
The Orissa High Court has framed a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the functioning of the courts which are as follows:
Advocates will enter the Court premises only to conduct cases and leave the premises as soon as the hearing is over.
Crowding or gathering in Court room strictly avoided. Only litigants and general public will be allowed in the Court complex to avoid crowding as per the guidelines laid down by the government.
Not more than 4 persons should be present in the court room at any given point of time.
Court premises, Court rooms, offices and furniture have to be sanitised and social distancing norms followed.
Use of face masks at all times is mandatory while spitting shall be strictly prohibited.
The High Court has directed to put the SOP on publication for awareness of general public and other stake holders by uploading the same on official website of the concerned District Court. It has further stated that the SOP shall be subject to further modification, from time to time as may be required.