COVID Scare: Orissa High Court Shut For Five Days From Today

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court will remain closed for five days from Thursday in view of an unprecedented increase in COVID-19 cases in the state and a rise in infection among its staff members.

In an office order issued on Wednesday, Registrar (Judicial) S K Mishra said the High Court and its offices will be completely shut down from January 13 to 17.

From January 18 to February 4, the High Court will function with two division benches and seven single benches to take up only the exceptionally urgent cases, he added.

Notably, hearings are being held in virtual mode since Monday and the court has been functioning with 50 per cent of the staff strength to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Registrar General Chittaranjan Dash also informed that ultra-violet ray machines have been provided for sanitising case files. “Thermal screening will be made mandatory at the entry point to the court and no person having any of the symptoms such as cold, cough, sneezing or fever will be allowed entry into the premises irrespective of identity card or pass issued in his/her favour,” he said.

The SOP made it mandatory for all the officials, court staff and advocates entering the High Court premises to wear masks and maintain social distancing. While those on the court premises have been asked to use stairs, the number of persons in the elevator at one time will be three. Officials and staff while using the lift should stand facing the walls of the lift and not each other.