Amid surge in corona cases and threat from Omicron, the new variant of the virus, many institutions have gone for imposing strict Covid behavior.
The Jharkhand High Court has decided to hear cases through virtual mode from January 3, 2022 to January 14, 2022 in view of the sudden spike in COVID-19 cases. A notification to this effect was issued by the Registrar General of the High Court on Sunday, January 2.
"The Court shall take up the matters, as per the existing arrangement with regard to listing of cases, through virtual mode only," the notice said.
Further, the Lawazima courts of Registrar General and Joint Registrar (Judicial) shall also take up matters through virtual mode only.
"The concerned stakeholders including Court-staff shall get themselves fully vaccinated and shall strictly adhere to the norms of social-distancing and Covid-19 protocols, guidelines, directions etc. issued by the Government of India, the State Government and this Hon’ble Court from time to time," the notice further stated.
The above arrangement shall continue till January 14, 2022. The Supreme Court and various High Courts have already switched to virtual or hybrid modes of hearing in view of the spike in Omicron cases. With the evolving Omicron situation, offline classes and reopening of schools for junior classes up to Class V has become uncertain in the State. Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday after having a meeting with disaster management imposed strict restrictions closing down all educational institutions till further order.
Sources said that many schools have already once again switched to online mode of education after cases surge in the State.
The students are upset as they feel that it is unlikely that schools will reopen this academic session. A student of class V at DAV, Kapil Dev requesting anonymity said, “We were hopeful about reopening of schools, but with the surge in cases it is unlikely that schools will reopen this year too.” The student also said that though the school administration is providing online education, the quality of education in classroom teaching is much better.
Meanwhile, with 40 students at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) infected with coronavirus, the RIMS administration has decided to postpone the examination for the first year. The institute will conduct examinations in online mode and the institute will make arrangements for this.
Also, many offices have switched back to running the office with half the strength. The state government has directed government offices too to call half the strength. Many private offices have asked their employees to work from home or allow only skeleton staff at offices.