Coronavirus in Kerala: HC directs courts to continue regular functioning

KOCHI: The Kerala high court on Thursday said that the courts will not close due to threat of coronavirus. However, it has allowed lower courts to dispense with regular proceedings and focus on cases requiring enforcement of orders. Non-urgent cases can be postponed, the high court has directed.
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An official memorandum was issued by high court registrar general K Haripal to all principal district and sessions judges on Thursday.The court said that news about the courts closing due to threat of coronavirus are wrong.
The operative portion of the memorandum said, “In the light of threat of coronavirus, there are news spreading that courts are being closed or summer vacation is being advanced. It is made clear that there is no such proposal. However, all principal district judges are directed to instruct the officers under them that wherever litigants are likely to throng, it is not necessary to follow regular court procedures. Instead, cases which will not be taken up for trial can be adjourned by notification. In other words, regular functioning of the courts should be continued. Presence of the parties shall not be insisted unless essential for the enforcement of orders of high court or other superior courts.”
It was also directed that mediation and Lok Adalat proceedings need not be continued during the period of alert, except for compliance of judicial directions.
The high court has asked district judges to ensure that the guidelines issued by the health department of the state government is followed in letter and spirit.