Post on 24-Jan-2023
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R.O.C.NO.23991-C/2020/C3
NOTIFICATION NO. 47-A/2020
It is reported that there is an increase in the number of detected cases of
Coronavirus and a large number of Districts of the State are within red-zones,
including the Districts of Chennai and Madurai, where the Principal Seat and the
Bench of the High Court are situate. The spread may gain higher proportions in the
coming week of May 2020. In between, the State Government also intensified the
lockdown from 26.4.2020 to 29.4.2020 in several Corporations, including the
Municipal Corporation of Chennai and Madurai. The state of uncertainty with
regard to either the lifting of the lockdown or staggered functioning is yet to be
declared by the State Government as well as by the Central Government.
In view of the above, as notified vide Notification No.47/2020, dated
18.04.2020, it may not be appropriate to resume regular and normal functioning as
that may invite the possibility of congregation of lawyers and litigants, and violation
of physical distancing norms keeping in view the large number of lawyers practising
in the High Court, together with their staff.In order to ensure physical distancing
norms, threats of spread of the endemic by physical contact, and to avoid any
complications arising therefrom, the system of hearing of matters only through
remote video conferencing shall be continued.
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It is therefore notified that the level and volume of functioning is hereby
enhanced in a limited staggered manner for the time being till 31st of May, 2020,
which will continue till the lockdown is lifted or relaxed, only through video-
conferencing as was being conducted till now or a decision is taken otherwise for
resumption of normal functioning.
In view of the above, and considering the various suggestions that have been
made by the State Bar Council; the respective Bar Associations of the High Court,
whose opinions have been received; the opinion of the Advocate General, and the
views of certain other District Bar Associations and individual lawyers, including
Senior Advocates, Notification No.47/2020 dated 18.04.2020, issued for regular
functioning in the month of May, 2020 stands modified to the effect that instead of
the regular functioning of Courts, the High Court at Principal Seat shall function
through video-conferencing only, with the Hon'ble Judges from their residences.
This staggered functioning be conducted with the strength of Two Division Benches
and Ten Single Judges.
The Bench at Madurai having a slightly different set up, being at a
considerable distance from the township and with all the Judges living within the
campus of the High Court, presently 15 in number including the Hon'ble
Administrative Judge, will function from their residences or their chambers through
video-conferencing only. The subject matter of urgent cases to be taken up can be
allocated amongst all the available Judges at Madurai Bench and the Additional
Registrar General (i/c) cum Registrar (Judicial), the Registrar Administration and the
Additional Registrar (I.T.) shall make all necessary arrangements for the same with
the permission of the Hon'ble Administrative Judge.
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In addition to, the Hon’ble Chief Justice having taken notice of the
Notification No.40-3/2020 DM-I (A) dated 1st of May, 2020 issued by the Ministry
of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi was pleased to direct that the
judicial functioning of the High Court, both at Principal Seat and at Madurai Bench,
shall be conducted strictly through video-conferencing only and the e-filing / e-mail
filing system, as was being done before subject to all the prescriptions additionally
provided in the aforesaid Notification of the Ministry of Home Affairs restricting
movement in Containment Areas.
The functioning in the month of May 2020 of the High Court Madras and
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai, as already notified vide High
Court's Notification No.47/2020 dt.18.04.2020 stands modified as mentioned above.
HIGH COURT,MADRAS SD/- C.KUMARAPPAN
DATED: 01.05.2020. REGISTRAR GENERAL
To
1. All the Hon'ble Judges (for information).
2. All the Registrars, High Court, Madras and Madurai Bench of Madras High
Court, Madurai.
3. All the Officers, High Court, Madras and Madurai Bench of Madras High
Court, Madurai.
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4. The Secretary to His Excellency The President of India, New Delhi.
5. The Secretary General, Supreme Court of India, New Delhi.
6. The Chief Secretary to Government, Secretariat, Chennai 9.
7. The Private Secretary to His Excellency The Governor of Tamil Nadu, Raj
Bhavan, Guindy, Chennai.
8. The Chief Secretary to Government of Puducherry, Puducherry.
9. The Secretary to Government, Home Department, Secretariat,Chennai-9
10. The Registrar General, High Court of Judicature @ Patna.
11. The Registrar General, High Court of Madhya Pradesh @ Jabalpur.
12. The Registrar General, High Court of Andhra pradesh @ Amaravati.
13. The Registrar General, High Court of Telangana @ Hyderabad.
14. The Registrar General, High Court of Judicature @ Bombay.
15. The Registrar General, High Court of Punjab & Haryana @ Chandigarh.
16. The Registrar General, High Court of Judicature @ Allahabad.
17. The Registrar General, High Court of Kerala @ Ernakulam.
18. The Registrar General, High Court of Rajasthan @ Jodhpur.
19. The Registrar General, Odisha High Court @ Cuttack.
20. The Registrar General, High Court of Karnataka @ Bangalore.
21. The Registrar General, High Court of Jammu & Kashmir @ Srinagar/Jammu.
22. The Registrar General, High Court of Calcutta @ Kolkatta.
23. The Registrar General, High Court of Himachal Pradesh @ Shimla.
24. The Registrar General, The Gauhati High Court, Guwahati, Assam,
(Nagaland, Mizoram & Arunachal Pradesh)
25. The Registrar General, High Court of Manipur
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26. The Registrar General, High Court of Meghalaya
27. The Registrar General, High Court of Tripura
28. The Registrar General, High Court of Gujarat @ Ahmedabad
29. The Registrar General, High Court of Delhi, New Delhi.
30. The Registrar General, High Court of Sikkim @ Gangtok.
31. The Registrar General, High Court of Chhattisgarh @ Bilaspur.
32. The Registrar General, High Court of Jharkhand @ Ranchi.
33. The Registrar General, High Court of Uttarakhand @ Nainital.
34. The Secretary, Madras Bar Association, High Court, Madras.
35. The Secretary, Madras High Court Advocates' Association, High Court,
Madras.
36. The Secretary, Bar Council of Tamil Nadu &Puducherry, High Court, Madras
37. The Secretary, Women Lawyers Association, Madras.
38. The Secretary, Law Association, Madras.
39. The Organising Secretary, Tamil Nadu Mediation and Conciliation Centre,
High Court Buildings, Madras.
40. The Secretary, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court Bar Association,
Madurai.
41. The Secretary, Madurai Bench High Court Advocates' Association,
Madurai.
42. The Secretary, Madurai Women Lawyers' Association, Madurai.
43. The Secretary, Madras High Court Madurai Bench Advocates' Association,
Madurai.
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44. The Secretary, Madurai Bar Association of Madurai Bench of Madras High
Court,Madurai.
45. Thiru A.L. Somayaji, Senior Advocate, Secretary, Rules Committee,
No.29,30, Old Law Chambers, High Court, Madras.
46. The Director/Asst. Director, Tamil Nadu State Judicial Academy,
Chennai/Madurai/ Coimbatore.
47. All the Principal District Judges/District Judges/District Judge-cum-Chief
Judicial Magistrate.
48. The Principal Judge, City Civil Court, Chennai.
49. The Chief Judge, Court of Small Causes, Chennai.
50. The Presiding Officer, Principal Labour Court, Chennai.
51. The Presiding Officer, Industrial Tribunal, Chennai.
52. The Special Judge, Spl. Court for EC & NDPS Act Cases, Chennai.
53. The Chairman, State Transport Appellate Tribunal, Chennai.
54. The Chairman, Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai.
55. The Member/Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority, High
Court Campus, Madras 104.
56. The Chief Judge, Puducherry.
57. All the Chief Judicial Magistrates in the State of Tamil Nadu.
58. The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Egmore, Chennai.
59. The Official Liquidator,'CorporateBhavan', 2nd
floor, No.29, RajajiSalai,
Chennai-1.
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60. All Law Officers including the Administrator General and Official Trustee and
Central Law Officers in the City.
61. The Registrar, Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, RajajiBhavan,Chennai 90.
62. The Registrar, Central Administrative Tribunal, City Civil Court Buildings,
Chennai.
63. The Registrar, State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Fazer Bridge
Road, V.O.C. Nagar Part Town, Chennai-3
64. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Puducherry.
65. The Registrar, Armed Forces Tribunal, Regional Bench, No.1A (Old MH
Complex), Rudhra Road, St. Thomas Mount, Chennai-16.
66. The Curator, High Court Museum, High Court, Madras.
67. The Accountant General, Anna Salai, Chennai- 18.
68. The Editors, The Hindu, Indian Express, Dinathanthi, Dinamani,Dinakaran,
Dinamalar, Malaimurasu, Madras Times and UNI Madras.
69. The Press Trust of India, United India Colony, Kodambakkam – 600 024.
70. The Press Reporters, High Court, Madras.
71. The Pay and Accounts Officer, High Court Campus, Madras.
72. The Sub Pay and Accounts Officer, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court
Campus, Madurai.
73. The Post Master General, Anna Salai, Chennai-2.
74. The Posting Clerk, Original side, High Court, Madras.
75. The Notice Boards, Appellate Side and Original side
76. The Telephone Operator, High Court, Madras.
77. The Director of Stationery and Printing, Government Press, Chennai.
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78. The Works Manager, Govt. Central Press, Chennai -79.
79. The Dy. Works Manager, Government Press, High Court Buildings, Madras.
80. The Director, All India Radio, Chennai-4 (News Division).
81. The Director, Doordarshan, Chennai-5 (News Division).
82. All the Heads of Section, High Court, Madras and Madurai Bench of Madras
High Court, Madurai.
83. The Secretary, The Madras High Court and Madurai Bench Officers and Staff
Association, Madras.
84. The Secretary, Law Clerks Association, High Court, Madras.
85. The Record Keeper, A.D. Records, High Court, Madras.
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R.O.C.NO.23991-C/2020/C3
OFFICIAL MEMORANDUM
Sub: Courts & Judges – Spread of Corona Virus Pandemic –
Limited functioning of the Subordinate Courts in the
State of Tamil Nadu due to lockdown in the State of
Tamil Nadu - Summer Vacation of the Subordinate Civil
Courts in the State of Tamil Nadu and Union Territory of
Puducherryfrom the 1st of May, 2020 to 31
st of May,
2020 kept in abeyance and adjourned – Further
modification - Orders issued.
Ref: 1. High Court's Official Memorandum in Roc.No.88001-
A/2019/C3, dt.12.12.2019.
2. High Court’s Official Memorandum in Roc.No.88001-
A/2019/C3, dt.13.12.2019
3. High Court’s Official Memorandum in Roc.No.23991-
C/2020/C3, dated 18.04.2020 (For T.N &Puducherry)
As resolved by the Hon’ble Full Court in its Video Conferencing
Meeting dated 30th
of April, 2020, looking to the peculiar grim situation of the
State of Tamil Nadu in relation to the existing status of the threat of Corona
Virus, High Court is of the opinion that in order to meet the situation which is
likely to continue in the month of May, 2020 as predicted, it may not be
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appropriate to resume regular and normal functioning as notified in the
Official Memorandum third cited, as that may invite the possibility of
congregation of lawyers and litigants, andviolation of physical distancing
norms keeping in view the large number of lawyers practising in the State,
together with their staff, and the number of Subordinate Courts and Taluk
Courts spread over throughout the 32 Districts of the State.
However, this continued state of lockdown should also not impede the
functioning of the Courts beyond a limit, yet in order to ensure physical
distancing norms, threats of spread of the endemic by physical contact and to
avoid any complications arising therefrom, the system of hearing of matters
through remote video conferencing be continued.
In view of the above,and considering the various suggestions that have
been made by the State Bar Council; the respective Bar Associations of the
High Court, whose opinions have been received; the opinion of the Advocate
General, and the views of certain other District Bar Associations and
individual lawyers, including Senior Advocates, it is directed that the level
and volume of functioning be enhanced in a limited staggered manner for the
time being till 31st of May, 2020, which will continue till the lockdown is
lifted or relaxed or a decision is taken otherwise for resumption of normal
functioning.
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With the availability of the hardware to all concerned and the software
appliances, coupled with the existing manpower, the Subordinate Courts shall
resume staggered functioning with limited subject matters requiring urgent or
expedient hearing till 31st of May, 2020, and subject to any further decision by
the High Court. The ministerial and subordinate staff to be deployed for the
said purpose shall be divided in shifts in proportions as per requirement, the
total deployment not beyond 33% of the total strength.
The subject matters may range from Matrimonial cases; POSCO cases;
Motor Accident Claims; Domestic Violence cases; Bails and Anticipatory
Bails; Injunctions matters; Ex-parte Motions, Rent Control and such related
matters, which may be conveniently handled through video-conferencing.
The adjustment of subject matters to be spread over proportionately to the
respective jurisdictions of Presiding Officers by the Principal District
Judges/Principal Judge/Chief Judge allocating work to the Judicial Officers
rank-wise and by turns, accommodating cases as per the limited staff
available.
In the event of any further necessity, the Principal District
Judges/Principal Judge/Chief Judge concerned may contact the High Court for
further instructions and requirements. The Subordinate Courts are further
directed to await further advisories from the High Court.
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Today, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, New Delhi,
vide Notification No.40-3/2020-DM-I(A) dated 1st of May, 2020 has further
announced the extension of the lockdown for a period of further two weeks
with effect from 4th
of May, 2020. The said Notification along with new
Guidelines issued by the Central Government today (1st of May, 2020) on
lockdown measures was placed before the Hon’ble Chief Justice, who was
pleased to issue further directions that since movement restrictions and
measures for safety of persons with specifics regarding Containment Zones in
the Red, Orange and Green have been issued, the Principal District Judges /
Principal Judge, City Civil Court, Chennai / Chief Judge, Court of
SmallCauses, Chennai / Chief Judge, Puducherry may ensure that the said
lockdown guidelines are strictly observed while deploying staff for carrying
out the essential judicial services to the bare minimum that may be required in
this given circumstance of lockdown being continued. It has been clarified by
the Hon’ble Chief Justice that deployment of staff need not be necessary to the
maximum limit of 33% and may be kept at the minimum level. This should be
accompanied by all strict norms pertaining to Sanitation, Social Distancing
and all such measures as notified earlier.
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The functioning in the month of May, 2020 of the Subordinate Civil
Courts in the State of Tamil Nadu and Union Territory of Puducherry as
notified in R.O.C.No.23991-C/2020/C3 dated 18.04.2020 stands modified as
mentioned above.
HIGH COURT, MADRAS SD/- C.KUMARAPPAN
DATED: 01.05.2020. REGISTRAR GENERAL
To
01. All the Hon'ble Judges (for information).
02. All the Registrars, High Court, Madras and Madurai Bench of Madras
High Court, Madurai.
03. All the Principal District Judges/District Judges
04. The Principal Judge, City Civil Court, Chennai
05. The VIII Additional Judge/IX Additional Judge/XI Additional Judge/XII
Additional Judge/XIII Additional Judge/XIV Additional Judge
(CBI cases), Chennai
06. The Chief Judge, Court of Small Causes, Chennai
07. The Administrator General and Official Trustee, Chennai
08. The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Egmore, Chennai
09. The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (E.O.I), Egmore, Chennai
10. The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (E.O.II), Egmore, Chennai
11. The Presiding Officer, Principal Labour Court/I Additional Labour Court/
II Additional Labour Court/III Additional Labour Court, Chennai
12. The Presiding Officer, Labour Court, Coimbatore/ Cuddlore/ Madurai/
Salem/Tiruchirappalli/Tirunelveli
13. The Presiding Officer, Principal/Additional Labour Court, Vellore
14. The Presiding Officer, Industrial Tribunal Chennai.
15. The Additional District Judge and Presiding Officer, Special Court under
Essential Commodities Act, Chennai/Coimbatore /Madurai/ Pudukottai/
Salem/ Thanjavur
16. The Judge, Additional Special Court for Exclusive trial of cases under
NDPS Act, Chennai.
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17. The Principal Judge and I to VII Additional Principal Judges Family
Courts, Chennai
18.The Judge, Family Court, Coimbatore/ Dharmapuri/ Dindigul/ Erode/
Madurai/Udhagamandalam/Salem/Sivagangai/Tiruchirappalli/Tirunelveli/
Tiruvallur/ Vellore/Virudhunagar @Srivilliputhur
19. The City Government Pleader, City Civil Court Buildings, Chennai.
20. All the Chief Judicial Magistrate.
21. The Special Judge,Special Court under TNPID Act,Chennai/ Coimbatore/
Madurai
22. The Sessions Judge, Sessions Court for Trial of Bomb Blast Cases,
Chennai at Poonamallee/Coimbatore.
23.The Director/Additional Director, Tamil Nadu State Judicial Academy,
Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai
24. The Chairman, (Tamil Nadu) Sales Tax Appellate Tribunal, Chennai
25. The Member Secretary, Tamil Nadu State Legal Services Authority,
Chennai
26. The Secretary, High court, Legal Services Committee, Chennai.
27. The Member Secretary, Pondicherry Legal Services Authority,
Pondicherry
28. The State Transport Appellate Tribunal Chennai 104, by its Chairman
29. The Chairman,/Judicial Officer, Taxation Appeals Tribunal, Corporation of
Chennai, Chennai
30. The II Additional District Judge (CBI Cases), Coimbatore/Madurai.
31. The III Additional District Judge (PCR), Madurai/II Additional District
Judge (PCR), Tirunelveli
32. The I Additional District Judge (PCR), Thanjavur/Tiruchirappalli
33. The Sessions Judge, Sessions Court for Trial of Cases relating to
Communal Clashes, Madurai
34. The Chief Judge, Puducherry.
35. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Puducherry.
36. The Secretary, Madras Bar Association, High Court, Madras.
37. The Secretary, Madras High Court Advocates' Association, High Court,
Madras.
38.The Secretary, Bar Council of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry, High Court,
Madras
39. The Secretary, Women Lawyers Association, Madras.
40. The Secretary, Law Association, Madras.
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41. The Organising Secretary, Tamil Nadu Mediation and Conciliation Centre,
High Court Buildings, Madras.
42. The Secretary, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court Bar Association,
Madurai.
43.The Secretary, Madurai Bench High Court Advocates' Association,
Madurai.
44. The Secretary, Madurai Women Lawyers' Association, Madurai.
45. The Secretary, Madras High Court Madurai Bench Advocates'Association,
Madurai
46. The Secretary, Madurai Bar Association of Madurai Bench of Madras
High Court, Madurai.
47. The Chairman,Federation of District and Subordinate Courts Bar
Associations of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, No.1-A6, Trichy Main
Road, Namakkal 637 001.
48. The Official Liquidator, 'Corporate Bhavan',2nd
floor, No.29, RajajiSalai,
Chennai-1.
49. All Law Officers including the Administrator General and Official Trustee
And Central Law Officers in the City.
50. The Registrar, Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, RajajiBhavan, Chennai 90.
51. The Secretary, Railway Rates Tribunal of India, No.5, Dr.P.V.Cherian
Crescent Road, Egmore, Chennai-105.
52. The Registrar,Central Administrative Tribunal, City Civil Court Bldgs,
Chennai
53. The Registrar, Railway Claims Tribunal,No.50,Mc.Nicholas Rd, Chetpet,
Chennai-31.
54. The Registrar, State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Slum
Clearance Board Buildings, II Floor, 212, R.K.Mutt Road, Chennai-4.
55. The Registrar, Armed Forces Tribunal, Regional Bench, No.1A,
(Old MH Complex), Rudhra Road, St. Thomas Mount, Chennai-16.
56. The Curator, High Court Museum, High Court, Madras.
57. The Accountant General, Anna Salai, Chennai- 18.
58. The Editors, The Hindu, Indian Express, Dinathanthi, Dinamani,
Dinakaran, Dinamalar, Malaimurasu, Madras Times and UNI Madras.
59. The Press Trust of India, United India Colony, Kodambakkam,Chennai-24.
60. The Press Reporters, High Court, Madras.
61. The Pay and Accounts Officer, High Court Campus, Madras.
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62. The Sub Pay and Accounts Officer, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court,
Campus, Madurai.
63. The Post Master General, Anna Salai, Chennai-2.
64. The Director of Stationery and Printing, Government Press, Chennai.
65. The Works Manager, Govt. Central Press, Chennai -79.
66. The Dy. Works Manager, Government Press, High Court Buildings,
Madras.
67. The Director, All India Radio, Chennai-4 (News Division).
68. The Director, Doordarshan, Chennai-5 (News Division).
69. The Official Liquidator, 'Corporate Bhavan', 2nd
floor, No.29, RajajiSalai,
Chennai-1.
70. The Registrar, Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, RajajiBhavan, Chennai 90.
71. The Secretary, Railway Rates Tribunal of India, No.5, Dr.P.V.Cherian
Crescent Road, Egmore, Chennai-105.
72. The Registrar, Central Administrative Tribunal, City Civil Court Bldgs,
Chennai
73. The Registrar, Railway Claims Tribunal,No.50,Mc.Nicholas Rd, Chetpet,
Chennai -31.
74. The Registrar, State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Slum
Clearance Board Buildings, II Floor, 212, R.K.Mutt Road, Chennai-4.
75. The Registrar, Armed Forces Tribunal, Regional Bench, No.1A,
(Old MH Complex), Rudhra Road, St. Thomas Mount, Chennai-16. .
76. The Director of Stationery and Printing, Government Press, Chennai.
77. The Works Manager, Govt. Central Press, Chennai -79.
78.The Dy. Works Manager, Government Press, High Court Buildings,
Madras.
79. The Director, All India Radio, Chennai-4 (News Division).
80. The Secretary, Law Clerks Association, High Court, Madras.
(All the Heads of Units are requested to communicate this Official
Memorandum to all the Subordinates under their control)
Copy to : 01. The Section Officers, B, B5, F& Protocol Sections, High Court, Madras andMadurai
Bench of Madras High Court, Madurai.
02. The Section Officer, “C” Section, Madurai Bench of Madras High Court,
Madurai
03. The Chief Posting Clerk, Appellate Side, High Court, Madras.
04. The Record Keeper, A.D. Records, High Court, Madras.
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