Expressing dissatisfaction with virtual mode of hearing in Jharkhand High Court and at lower judiciary, which started following the nationwide lockdown on March 25 last year, the Jharkhand State Bar Council has knocked the door of Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court, Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan with a plea to commence physical hearing of courts.
Jharkhand State Bar Council chairman Rajendra Krishna said, “We have approached Chief Justice of Jharkhand High Court, Justice Dr Ravi Ranjan with a plea to commence physical hearing of courts. The Chief Justice based on our plea is going to take up the issue at the High Court core committee on January 5.”
“Followed by HC core committee meeting, the Chief Justice will hold a meeting with Jharkhand State Bar Council on January 8 where the decision on final opening up of physical courts will be taken up,” added Krishna.
Senior advocate Rajendra Krishna claimed that the advocates of High Court and lower judiciary have a consensus on opening up of courts as lawyers are already appearing physically at executive courts.
The State Bar Council members are also ready to follow all the Covid 19 protocol as cases of corona pandemic has come down in Country especially in Jharkhand.
The Jharkhand Covid recovery rate is 97.69 per cent against the national average of 96.10 per cent.
The growth rate of the virus in Jharkhand is 0 .14 per cent against the national average of 0.16 per cent.
At the time when state Covid 19 recovery rate is going up, two vaccines for coronavirus, Oxford Institute's Covishield, which is being developed by the Pune-based Serum Institute, and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, received emergency approval from the country's drug regulator today which too has strengthened fight against Covid 19 pandemic.
Rajendra Krishna claimed that as Covid 19 recovery rate is going up day-by-day, the High Court should intervene and take a decision on opening up of Courts at the same time we are ready to go on virtual mode of hearing if Covid 19 cases goes up in future.
Sources said that due to virtual hearing of courts, lawyers especially those at lower judiciary are facing financial crunch.
A lawyer at Ranchi Civil Court requesting anonymity said, “The Courts are closed for more than nine months in such situations the lawyers are facing financial distress as in virtual courts not many cases are being taken up.”
The lawyer claimed that during Covid 19 peak cases, the State Bar Council had come to address financial issues of lawyers under which lawyers were provided financial assistance but that too was insufficient. The lawyer demanded opening up of physical courts so that their financial issue can be shorted out.
The lawyer claimed that all services such as markets, government offices, train, transport, air services and other services have resumed. Looking into lawyers' demand and opening up of all services, the High Court and State Government should intervene immediately for opening up of courts.