Gujarat HC to commence physical hearings from 16 September after 12 employees test positive for Covid-19

The Gujarat High Court has notified that physical courts will commence only from September 16, 2020 as 12 employees of the Court were found to be infected with COVID-19.

Earlier the Court was to start physical functioning from September 14, 2020, but now has been altered after the development.

A circular has been issued by the High Court stating that the employees were found COVID-19 positive after the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) carried out antigen tests at the High Court premises.

The Circular read, “Therefore the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation would carry out a thorough and comprehensive exercise for cleaning and sanitising the entire premises of the High Court, Judicial Academy, Auditorium, Kayda Bhavan, bank, post office, etc. including the inside of the buildings such as court rooms, chambers, offices, record rooms, wash rooms, etc. from 12th September 2020. For carrying out the above exercise, 3 to 4 days are required and in view of the above, after due deliberations the Standing Committee has resolved that the entire premises of the High Court be shut.”

The Court would be shut down from 12th to 15th September 2020. During this period the judicial functioning (both virtual and physical) of the High Court will remain suspended. It will resume only on September 16.