Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court instructed the Telangana Chief Secretary to provide a thermal machine so that all those who come to Court could be screened, litigants, Counsels and Judges. In the backdrop of an advisory from World Health Organization (WHO) against mass congregations consequent to the rapid spread of Covid-19, and the several positive cases in the country and in the state.

The Telangana High Court on Monday took a decision to restrict adjudication of cases to dire urgent matters only. The High Court also reduced the number of benches and working days to hear the cases. The decision applies not only the High Court but also all subordinate Courts in the State. One division bench headed by Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice A. Abhisekh Reddy and four separate single benches headed by Justice P. Naveen Rao, Justice Challa Kodanda Ram, Justice Shameem Akther and Justice G. Sri Devi respectively would hold the Court on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays till March 31^st.

As part of precautions and restrictions, the High Court cautioned that the no litigant would be permitted to the Court premises, except in family and child custody cases. Only the Counsels, who cases are listed before the Court, would be permitted to enter HC campus. They shall be permitted to enter the Court Hall in batches of five each. The remaining advocates are advised to wait in the corridors, said HC in its order. Other Counsels, who do not have cases listed before HC, were told to refrain from coming to the Court campus. The District Courts and other subordinate Courts were instructed to entertain only urgent matters such as bail applications, temporary injection applications, remand matter etc.

The trail in all other cases must be postponed for a period of three weeks, the HC said. All Counsels were assured that none of the Judges will pass any adverse orders. Women staff need not attend work with an advice to take care of their children at home. In all contempt cases, where the personal appearance of bureaucrats were ordered, have been dispensed away with. The CJ observed, I want only 100 people to be in the Court on three working days. The nature of urgency shall be decided by the Registrar (Judicial) or concerned Judge, the CJ ordered. The Bar Association, hall and lunch room for lady advocates shall remain closed until further orders.