Orissa HC to remain closed in wake of surge in Covid-19 cases

Cuttack: Keeping in view an increase in Covid-19 cases, the Orissa High Court and its offices will remain closed from May 20 to 27, 2021. The Registrar General of the Orissa HC in an order stated the decision has been taken in the wake of rise in Covid-19 positive cases in Cuttack city. Several staff of the court have also tested positive for the coronavirus.

The offices of the High Court will resume functioning on May 28, 2021 as per the vacation roster.

The order further mentioned the earlier notified dates of the Vacation Benches shall stand cancelled and instead, the Vacation Benches as notified, shall function on May 31, 2021, June 2, 2021 and June 4, 2021 during the remaining period of the Summer Vacation.

In case listing of urgent cases on May 31, June 2 and June 4, mentioning must be made only on the preceding working day before the Registrar (Judicial) and the Deputy Registrar (Judicial) as per the existing arrangement, the order added.

During the period from May 20 to 27, 2021, only extremely urgent matters that cannot wait till May 31, 2021 for listing may be mentioned before the Registrar (Judicial) through email id: [email protected] between 11 AM and 12 Noon, by furnishing in advance by email a statement explaining the extreme urgency. It will then be placed before the Chief Justice for appropriate direction, the order read.

Learned Advocates were requested to avoid mentioning routine matters during this period.