Madras HC says no to complete physical hearing from Monday due to surge in COVID-19 cases

The Madras High Court has decided to conduct its proceedings only through virtual or hybrid (part physical and part virtual) mode from Monday in view of the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in some pockets of Chennai and other parts of the State. The decision has been taken as a precautionary measure and to ensure a safe working environment, according to a notification issued by its Registrar General. The notification issued on Saturday stated that Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee has ordered that all judges in the principal seat of the High Court as well as those in Madurai Bench shall hear the cases either fully through virtual mode with both the government counsel and private lawyers appearing through video conference or through hybrid mode where government counsel alone would appear in physical court.