Virtual hearings to continue in High Court from Monday

CHENNAI: Fond hopes of advocates that physical hearing at the Madras High Court would commence from July 6 stood dashed as the Full court, comprising all judges, which met on Friday decided to continue its functioning via the virtual mode for now owing to no let down in the spread of COVID-19.

Sources claimed that when compared to the limited functioning of two division benches and four single judges following the intense lockdown Chennai was subjected to, the phase from July 6 would involve all the judges hearing the cases either from the court or their residences through video conferencing.

The full court had come to this decision after intense deliberation especially with it having sought the suggestion of the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and also advocate associations like the Madras High Court Advocates Association and the Madras Bar Association as to whether it should commence physical functioning from Monday or continue the present system of hearing cases virtually till the month end.

The Bar Council which is not for the continuation of the virtual courts had urged the resumption of physical functioning by following all safety protocols. It pointed out that several advocates were unable to meet their dayto-day expenses due to restricted functioning of the High Court through video conferencing mode.