Bombay HC to work only two days next week; only extremely urgent cases to be heard

MUMBAI: Continuing its precautionary measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, the Bombay high court reduced its functioning further and will now work on only two days next week to hear only extremely urgent matters. Acting Chief Justice BP Dharmadhikari held a meeting and decided that at all its benches in Goa, Aurangabad, Nagpur and in Mumbai, the HC will, week starting March 23, will take up "only extremely urgent matters" on Monday and Thursday, between 12 noon and 2pm.Also significantly, bringing more technology to use, the HC has directed that all matters where urgent hearing is sought, such application be made through emails only to rgjud1-bhc@nic.in and rgjud2-bhc@nic.in. For the hearing sought on March 23, the application must be mailed on March 20 and on March 26 for the hearing on March 27.No oral mentioning of matters will be permitted next week.If the matter is to be heard it will be listed on board. The assignment of the Judges will be separately published as is done during court vacation. Staff will be limited and advocates, litigants and public have been requested seek a hearing in only those matters which cannot wait beyond the next week, said the circular issued by registrar general S B Agrawal.The decision was taken at a meeting held by the ACJ, with Justices Amjad Sayed, KK Tated, advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni, Additional solicitor general Anil Singh, Bombay Bar Association chief Milind Sathe and chiefs of Advocates Association of Western India and Law Society.