LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) here on Monday issued guidelines for district and sessions judges in all districts of Punjab until April 6 in the wake of an impending coronavirus threat.
The LHC notification released in this regard states, “As there is an apprehension of the spread of coronavirus, therefore, in order to reduce the possibility of its further spread and its eradication, some special and extraordinary measures are inevitable. Hence, it is directed that the following measures be taken forthwith and complied in letter and spirit”.
1- In each district of Punjab, district & sessions judges will nominate judges to perform duty of urgent nature for two weeks.
2- Female judges are exempted from performing duty.
3- Duty of urgent nature includes hearing of post-arrest bail, habeas corpus petitions, and application under section 22-A Cr P C for additional sessions judges and post-arrest bail, remand and issuance of interim injunction on fresh matters for magistrates and civil judges, respectively.
4- No case including pre-arrest bail will be dismissed for non-prosecution.
5- Female staff is also exempted from performing duty except where a female is in charge of a branch.
6- No person from the general public including a litigant, except in case of extreme need, will be allowed to enter court premises from main gate.
7- District & sessions judges will convene a meeting of bar president and general secretaries to discuss and apprise them of these measures.
8- Judicial remand in pending criminal cases will be granted by a magistrate by visiting jail as ordered earlier.
9- All the staff present in courts will wear masks.
10- A sanitiser will be kept outside each court or office and a member of staff will be deputed there to ensure hands cleansing before entering by anyone.
11- District & sessions judges will contact local government for supply of masks and sanitizer. In case of delay in supply or non-supply, they may purchase said items from their own budgets.
12- It will be ensured that courts will dispose of their business till 10 am.
13- The judges of ex-cadre courts will also comply with the above instructions except relating to the formation of groups.
14- In case of any difficulty, the issue may be brought in the knowledge of the Directorate of District Judiciary (DDJ) director general.
