COVID upsurge: Odisha courts to function with 50% staff; HC hearings to be held virtually

Cuttack: In view of sharp increase of COVID-19 cases across Odisha, all courts including High Court and tribunals will function with 50% staff from January 10, 2022.

As per the order by High Court of Orissa, all the benches shall function only through video conferencing and offices of High Court shall function with 50% strength of employees with effect from January 10, 2022 to February 4, 2022.

Based on the order issued by State Government on January 5, the roster for 50% attendance of employees shall be prepared by the Superintendents in such a manner that the employees are required to attend office on alternate days and they shall not leave the headquarters during the above period. While attending office, the employees must carry their Identity Cards.

Except the Officers and staff of the Court, there shall be restrictions for others over entry into the High Court campus. However, in a case where there is specific direction of any Bench for removal of defects, the Advocate concerned may come to the High Court for the limited purpose of removal of defects with prior intimation to Deputy Registrar (Judicial).

Cases shall be listed during this period, with the defects pointed out by the Stamp Reporting Section.

Filing of cases and documents shall be done through e-Filing portal as usual or through Drop Box (kept near the counters of the Copying Section) from 10.30 A.M. to 2.00 P.M.

Usual practice of grant of certified copies shall remain suspended and a print out of the Order and Judgment passed by the Court as available in the Court’s website may be utilized in lieu of a certified copy thereof, subject to it being attested by the Advocate concerned. Where no Advocate has been engaged, such copy shall be self-attested by the party-in-person.

Besides, the Subordinate Courts and Tribunals shall function with 50% staff on rotation basis on each working day during the
period from 10 January, 2022 to 4th February, 2022, which shall automatically get extended or vacated on extension or vacation of the restrictions.

The district judges or presiding officers of the tribunals shall take appropriate measures as per the guidelines of the State Government issued from time to time and also in consonance with the various COVID related instructions/ circulars, issued by the Court in the Year-2020-21.