Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, Madras high court and its Madurai Bench decided to go hybrid mode from Monday (10 April) until further orders.
In a letter, M Jothiraman, Registrar General of Madras HC said, "In view of the reports citing the gradual rise in COVID cases, as ordered, the Madras High Court, as a precautionary measure to reduce the footfalls in the Court Halls and in the court campus, resorts to hybrid mode of hearing of cases on a regular daily basis (without restricting to Fridays and the case to case request basis as in vogue now) both at the Principal Seat at Chennai and at Madurai Bench, from Monday 10 April, 2023 until further orders."
The members of the Bar and the litigants appearing as party-in-person are advised to utilise the facility of virtual/hybrid hearing of their cases to the best extent possible. The members of the Bar are also requested to make use of the facility made available for e-filing of cases in all jurisdictions, without limiting it to anticipatory bails, for which it has been made mandatory, he said.
He also requested all the concerned persons to cooperate for the effective implementation of the arrangements.
In Tamil Nadu, the number of COVID-19 cases crossed 200-mark on Wednesday. A total of 242 people tested positive for the virus taking the total number of active cases in the state to 1,216. Chennai alone reported 82 fresh cases. The next highest number of 26 cases was reported in Chengalpattu and Kanniyakumari, said a report on The Hindu.
Earlier, TN Health Minister Ma Subramanian said that the infections were spreading faster in healthcare institutions across the state.
The Union health department has also made wearing masks mandatory once again especially in crowded places.
(This is a developing story)