The Orissa High Court on Wednesday directed the District Judges to declare courts under their judgeships to remain closed in case containment zone order is declared in any area by the Government.
The HC further said, “In case of lockdown/shutdown or in any such eventuality/general preventive measure taken by the State authority in respect of that judgeship, the District Judge shall instruct and take recourse to adopt functioning of the courts in virtual mode/videoconferencing as far as practicable to take up only extremely urgent matters under intimation to the High Court.”
The District Judge or the Presiding Officer would allow functioning of the office/court with the minimal staffs to ensure adherence of social distancing and other Covid-19 guidelines.
The HC added accused would be produced in a court as required under law.