Court cases rescheduled due to Covid-19 outbreak
March 16, 2020 07:35 pm
The Secretary to the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has issued a notice announcing that all matters that are to be taken up in open court from 17th March to 20th March will be rescheduled and the new dates will be notified during the first week of April, 2020.
The Secretary of the JSC announced this issuing a notice on the direction of the Chief Justice to instruct all Counsel, Registered Attorneys and litigants.
A meeting of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) was held today to consider taking preventive measures with relation to the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and a decision was taken to issue the following directions to all judges and judicial officers to be implemented forthwith.
“In view of the outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) the Judicial Service Commission decided to issue the following instructions to all judges and judicial officers with the aim of preventing the spread of Coronavirus.”
“The objective of these measures is to minimize crowding in courthouses,” it said.
All cases that are to be taken up in open court from 17th March to 20th March will be rescheduled and the new dates will be notified during the first week of April, 2020
With regard to all other matter, it said that hearings will be restricted to urgent and essential matters based on the applications of the parties concerned.
Meanwhile it also said that the litigants will not be permitted to enter the court unless the Counsel requires the presence of the litigant.
In addition to this, during the period from march 17 to 20, no adverse/default orders are to be passed in matters where parties/witnesses are absent.