COVID-19: Guidelines issued for physical filing, crowd control in Civil Courts at Chennai [Read Notification]

A notification has been issued intimating the halt of physical filings at the filing sections of Civil Courts and Special Courts located within the Madras High Court campus, in view of the High Court's latest directions amid the second wave of COVID-19. .Instead, physical filing is now permitted only through Drop Boxes designated for the purpose, which would be placed by the Esplanade Gate of the Madras High Court/civil court campus. .Guidelines in respect of this procedure have been detailed with respect to city civil courts, small causes courts, family courts, NDPS courts etc. Notably, bail applications taken on file by the courts will be heard only through video conferencing..In case of filing of emergent civil cases, the preference of whether it is to be heard through video conferencing system or by way of physical hearing is to be mentioned. If it is to be heard physically (at the request of the advocate on record), a necessary “Entry Pass” will be issued only to the concerned advocate on record for entering the Court..If any application is to be filed in Special Courts such as those for CBI cases, TNPID cases, Industrial Tribunal, POCSO cases, Mahila Court, Special Courts I and II, Additional Special Court for the trial of criminal cases related to elected MPs and MLAs of Tamil Nadu, Labour court and the Special Court for cases under Prevention of Corruption Act, advocates and parties are to approach the authorities concerned via e-mail IDs mentioned in the notification..With a view to reduce crowding, physical entry into the courts has been largely restricted, with the notification detailing circumstances where an "Entry Pass" may be issued on request to advocates, witnesses or parties in certain circumstances, and for a particular date and time, considering the nature of the case and the need of the presence of the parties. .Guidelines have also been issued with respect to pending cases where both sides are ready and willing to proceed with the case through physical hearing, including advance notice at least three days in advance by filing a Joint Memo through the designated Drop Box. On receipt of the same, and if found convenient in the time schedule, the authorities would issue the necessary entry pass with the date and time of the hearing to the counsel and witnesses in the case. Entry passes would be issued at the Esplanade gate on the designated date. The case number, date and time will be published online.Other general instructions include:1. In respect of Special Courts where there is no drop box, the Advocates/Parties who require physical hearing have to furnish their phone number, E-mail ID, address along with necessary ID proof (Advocate ID card) through Email of the court concerned three days in advance, so as to enable the issuance of passes.2. Advocates/parties/witnesses holding Entry Passes alone will be permitted inside the court premises for the particular date and time slot allotted to them. Without necessary “Entry Pass”, nobody will be permitted in the court premises, until further orders.3. Only 3 to 5 cases per day will be taken up for physical hearing in each court with prior permission of the courts with the consent of the advocates. 4. Not More than six persons should be allowed in the court at a time. 5. Status of numbering or return of the cases filed through drop box will be notified on the website https://districts.ecourts.gov.in/chennai. For cause list, visit: https://districts.ecourts.gov.in/special-cause-list-physical-hearing-reg-0.6. Entry of the advocate and party will be allowed inside the Court only after adjournment of the present case. 7. Apart from physical hearing, advocates are at liberty to proceed with the cases even through video conferencing system as per prevailing procedure. 8. Advocates/parties/witnesses who are given permission to enter into the court premises, are required to follow all the safety instructions issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu relating to COVID-19. No person will be permitted to enter the court premises without a mask. Entry is subject to Thermal Scan at the Gate. 9. Advocates/parties/witnesses, who enter into the court premises shall utilise the hand sanitiser before entering the court hall and hand over the pass to the staff of the court before leaving the court hall. 10. Advocates/parties/witnesses who have been provided with Entry Pass, shall leave the court premises as and when their work in the said court is completed. After their work, wandering and gathering in the court premises is strictly prohibited.11. Members of the Bar are required to check petitions, plaints with reference to the signature, court fee and documents filed before dropping the paper in the drop box in order to avoid returns and delay.12. The timings for the drop box are from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm on all working dates. Entry into the City Civil Court campus will only be permitted through the Esplanade Gate. .[Read the Notification]