Coronavirus: BBA suggests screening before entry into Bombay High Court; asks members to avoid handshakes, take other precautions

The Bombay High Court has agreed to implement certain precautionary steps suggested by the Bombay Bar Association (BBA) in view of the coronavirus outbreak. .Inter alia, the BBA has suggested that litigants, counsel and other entrants to the Bombay High Court be screened to see if they have a temperature (a symptoms of being affected by the coronavirus), before being allowed entry to Court..As per a notification issued by the BBA today, the High Court has agreed to act on the following suggestions:Provide temperature guns at the security checks to check temperature of entrants to the court premisesIf a person is found to be running a temperature, then take steps for investigationIssue directions that the parties shall no attend court unless such attendance is directed by the CourtIssue directions that matters of Parties in person will not be dismissed for defaultIssue directions that visit to the Court premises be avoided unless it is extremely urgent or directed by the Court.The BBA has also urged its members to take certain safety measures, including that the to "avoid handshake greetings", ask clients not to visit the BBA premises unless it is urgent and to use face masks, hand sanitiser etc. to prevent the spread of the disease..As of late, a similar precautionary approach is seen to be adopted in various High Courts across the country to guard against the coronavirus outbreak.The Karnataka High Court recently exempted its staff from marking biometric attendance until further orders..The Jammu and Kashmir High Court launched a campaign to combat the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Last week, the first Bench of the High Court also issued a series of directions to guard against its spread. .Last Sunday, the Allahabad High Court passed allied directions. On Monday, the Delhi High Court issued a public notice requesting advocates, general public and litigants to avoid unnecessary overcrowding in the court premises..[Read the BBA notice here]