Lekha G –
The Ernakulam Bar Association (EBA) has written to the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court, Justice S Manikumar urging to resume physical functioning of Trial Courts in view of relaxation in lockdown restrictions in Kerala.
The President of EBA, Advocate Anil S Raj in the letter highlighted the difficulties faced by advocates and litigants over online functioning of the Trial Courts and that if the same continued even after the lockdown eases, it would lead to an unconscionable delay in disposal of huge backlog of cases pending before the Courts affecting the Judiciary at large.
Advocate Anil S Raj also has suggested some measures requesting the Courts to function by employing a judicious mix of online and physical hearing modes of cases and direct the Courts to prepare and publish a restricted cause lists for a week.
Further, he also suggested taking up roll call alone in online mode and assign separate time slots for evidences to be taken and arguments advanced to be explored in certain matters during the rest of the day.
The Principal District Judge may also be further directed to work towards procedures in identifying cases to be included in restricted cause list, taking up urgent matters as expressed by the parties although not included in the said list and allotting time slots for physical mode of hearing the cases in consultation with Judicial Officers and Bar Associations.
At present, Courts across the country are looking forward to a hybrid model of physical and online mode of hearing of cases. Earlier, over 500 Supreme Court Lawyers had written to the Chief Justice requesting resumption of physical functioning of Courts.