Fear of corona pandemic has once again hit the Ranchi Bar Association (RBA) after six advocates of Ranchi Bar Association were found infected with corona virus. The District Bar Association has issued a notice stating that the new Bar Building complex will be closed for a week for proper sanitization of Bar buildings.
District Bar Association president Shambhu Prasad Aggarwal said in the notice that as six lawyers sitting at Ranchi Bar Association, the District Bar Association as precautionary measures has decided to close the new bar building for a week. The notice also states that the new bar building complex will remain closed till the new bar building including the gate is sanitized.
The decision to close Ranchi District Bar Association for week has brought fear in the minds of lawyers as after being closed for almost ten months, the Ranchi District Bar Association (RDBA) open the Bar building resuming physical courts on February 3.
A lawyer at RDBA Vijay Kumar said, “The Bar Building and physical court resumed after ten months, but now with corona infection hitting lawyers we are left with no other alternative but to follow RDBA instructions.” Vijay Kumar further said, “The Bar Building is the place where lawyers sit and discuss cases with clients. We are hopeful that RDBA will take decision looking security aspects so that Bar Building opens once again.”
Based on Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Jharkhand High Court, Jharkhand State Bar Council and State Government physical hearing at Civil Courts across the state resumed on February 3.
The decision brought smiles on the face of over 33 hundred members of the District Bar Association. The lawyers took part in the physical hearing of courts after 10 months.
Many judicial processes including testimony and debates in cases that have been closed for months began in courts. A total of 49 judicial officers are posted in Civil Court, Ranchi. Accordingly, a physical hearing is being conducted in 13 courts. In remaining courts there is virtual hearing. During the physical hearing, the lawyers have to follow the guidelines issued by the High Court.
The Court of Judicial Commissioner, Family Court, Additional Judicial (I), CJM, ACJM, SDJM and Munsiff Court have physical hearing three days a week. The remaining three days there is virtual hearing. The physical court sits on alternate days, while in the rest there are physical hearings.