With rise in Covid 19 cases in the State particularly in Ranchi in past few weeks, the Jharkhand State Bar Council has decided to close down all Bar buildings in the State. The Jharkhand State Bar Council decided to take action in this connection today.

The chairman, secretary of all the district and subdivision bar associations of the state has been informed of this decision.

The letter issued under the signature of Secretary of Bar Council, Rajesh Pandey states that the decision has been taken for the purpose of breaking the chain of corona infection. The letter says that no lawyer, his co-workers and any person will be allowed to enter the bar buildings. No one will be allowed to stand around the bar building.

Council has advised lawyers not to physically appear before any court for hearing. Advocates have been urged to cooperate in compliance with these decisions.

The decision has been taken after the Ranchi District Bar Association building witnessed several corona cases in past few days. On Thursday senior advocate and octogenarian Banshi Prasad died due to corona infection. Banshi Prasad popularly known as Banshi Babu was admitted at Raj Hospital where he breathed his last.

Meanwhile, the lawyers have welcomed the decision of the State Bar Council to close down bar buildings. An advocate of Ranchi District Bar Association requesting anonymity said, “The Bar Bhawan is the place where large numbers of lawyers sit. The presence of a large number of lawyers is a great risk in spread of infection, the situation becomes more troublesome due to the presence of clients at Bar Bhawan. As clients reach Bar Bhawan across the state there are high chances of spread of infection.”

Here, the hearing of flat registration and other promises before the Municipal Commissioner, Additional Municipal Commissioner, Deputy Municipal Commissioner-1 and 2 in the Ranchi Municipal Corporation has been postponed till April 30. In the order issued by the Municipal Commissioner, it has been said that this decision has been taken in view of the increasing cases of Corona.

Meanwhile, Jharkhand's Covid-19 death toll went up to 1,292 after a record number of 31 fresh fatalities were reported during the last 24 hours, the health department said in a bulletin on Thursday.

Altogether 3,198 new infections also pushed the caseload of the state to 1,47,792. Jharkhand currently has 18,524 active cases. Altogether 1,27,976 patients have recovered from the disease so far.

The Bar Council decision to close Bar Building assumes importance as in January this year, after nine months the Jharkhand High Court decided to allow the full capacity physical functioning of courts including the High Court and subordinate courts along with an option of virtual hearing while following the standard operating procedure (Covid 19 guidelines).