3 single-judge HC benches to resume physical hearing

Announcement comes a day after lawyers decided to write to CJI, Centre

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday announced that physical hearing of cases by three designated courts will resume from February 8.

The announcement comes a day after perturbed lawyers’ body decided to write to Chief Justice of India and central government, seeking transfer of chief justice RS Jha over non-resumption of physical hearing of cases. The Bar also decided to boycott proceedings before the chief justice till either the resumption of physical hearing in all the courts or his transfer. The lawyers’ body had also revoked membership of Punjab advocate general Atul Nanda, accusing him of working against their “interests”, however, the decision was stayed by Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana.

In phased manner

The high court administration on Tuesday said that physical hearing of cases will resume in a phased manner and, to begin with, three judges sitting in single benches will take up criminal cases in which physical hearing of cases was notified with the consent of parties concerned on January 27. It also said that these judges will also take up those cases which are listed against the respective benches for any given day.

Lawyers have been pressing for physical hearings suspended since March 2020 in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak. The HC administration has deferred hearings in cases listed for February to May and June, which invited criticism from the lawyers’ body.

Bar body panel meet today

The executive committee of Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Association (PHHCBA) is to meet on Wednesday to decide future course of action.

However, work will remain suspended on Wednesday as well, as per their announcement.

Contrary to the claims of Bar association, the notification by HC administration also brings it to the fore that Punjab advocate general Atul Nanda, whose Bar membership was revoked by PHHCBA in its general house meeting on January 1 for “working against the physical opening of courts”, had given his consent to high court administration for the same in the January 31 meeting called by the high court administration.

The meeting had Bar body members and top law officers, including additional solicitor general, advocate generals of Punjab and Haryana and standing counsel, UT, as invitees.

The HC communication also says the Bar executive body members skipped the January 31 meeting

JUDGES WILL ALSO TAKE UP THOSE CASES WHICH ARE LISTED AGAINST THE RESPECTIVE BENCHES FOR ANY GIVEN DAY