Corona outbreak: LHC issues strict advisory to judges in Punjab

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has issued a strict advisory to the all the district & sessions judges in Punjab to take extraordinary measures in the wake of coronavirus outbreak and lockdown by the Punjab government.

District & sessions judges in each district would nominate judges to perform duty of urgent nature for two weeks while female judges have been exempted from performing duty, said a press note issued by the Lahore High Court Monday. Additional sessions judges will hear cases of urgent nature including post-arrest bail petitions, habeas corpus petitions, and applications under Section 22-A & 22-B CrPC while magistrates and civil judges would only take up post-arrest bail petitions, physical remand and issuance of interim injunctions on fresh matters. It added that, a magistrate will visit jail to grant judicial remand in pending criminal cases.

No case including pre-arrest bail shall be dismissed for non-prosecution and all the judges would ensure that they dispose of their business till 10 am and their staff members wear masks. Female staff working in subordinate judiciary has also been exempted from performing duty except where a female is in charge of a branch. No person from general public including a litigant, except in case of extreme need, would be allowed to enter court premises from main gate. District & sessions judges would hold meetings with bar presidents and general secretaries to discuss and apprise them of these measures.

A sanitizer would be kept outside each court or office and a member of staff shall be deputed there to ensure hands cleansing before entering by anyone. District & sessions judges would contact local government for supply of masks and sanitizers. In case of delay in supply or non-supply they may purchase the said items from their own budgets. The judges of ex-cadre courts shall also comply with these instructions except relating to formation of groups, it concluded.