No obligation black gown in High Court

Judges and lawyers in the High Court are not required to wear the usual black gown. From Wednesday (August 12), they will be able to take part in court proceedings without wearing this black gown. Instead, they can wear white clothes.

From Wednesday, besides the court activities in the virtual system, the regular court activities will also start by appearing in person.

This information was given in a notification signed by the Registrar General of the Supreme Court Ali Akbar on Tuesday (August 11) at midnight.

In the current situation of coronavirus (Covid-19) infection, judges and lawyers of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court will be able to wear white shirts and pants with a turn-up white collar, white band and white sari or salwar kameez while men will be able to wear cases during physical appearances and virtual hearings.

It is mentioned in the notice that this instruction has been given in the light of the decision of the full court meeting held on August 8. It further said that the notification will remain in force till further instructions.

Meanwhile, in another notification issued at the same time, the bail, stay, stay and stay order taken from the High Court have been extended till the court is fully opened.

Earlier, the Supreme Court was closed from March 13. When the coronavirus infection started, all the courts across the country were closed from March 26. Later, from May 11, the hearing of emergency cases in the lower courts and several benches of the High Court began in a virtual manner.

Then the trial began in the chamber court. The activities of the Appellate Division also started in a virtual manner from 12 July. However, the judges could not come to a decision to set up a regular court in the presence of more than one full court meeting.

Finally, on July 31, the administration of the Supreme Court said in a notification that from August 5, all the subordinate courts of the country will conduct regular court activities.

According to him, the trial of the lower court has been going on physically since August 5.

It was decided at the full court meeting held on August 8 that besides conducting the activities of the High Court Division in a virtual manner, regular courts would also be held in physical presence.

A statement issued on Monday (August 10th) said the chief justice had constituted 35 benches for virtual hearings and 16 benches for regular court hearings through physical presence. The trial in these benches will start from Wednesday.