Covid-19 Surge: Orissa High Court’s Summer Vacation Advanced By 3 Weeks

Cuttack: In View of the unprecedented surge in Covid-19 pandemic in the State, the Orissa High Court on Friday extended its ensuing summer vacation by around three weeks.

The period of the vacation has been extended from May 3 to June 5, 2021.

“The ensuing summer vacation of the High Court commencing from May 22 is advanced to May 3 and shall continue till June 5, 2021,” read a notification issued by the High Court registry.

According to the notification, the High Court will reopen on June 7. However, the court will further remain closed from June 14 to 16 on account of Raja festival.

During the vacation, the subordinate courts will function only in the virtual mode.

On the backdrop of the surge in Covid-19 pandemic situation, the court has issued the following new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in addition to the earlier ones.

The SOPs are to be strictly followed by the Presiding Officers on duty during the vacation.

• The Courts functioning in the morning shift are to function from 9 am to 11.30 am and those in the day shift are to function from 11 am to 1.30 pm for hearing of extremely urgent matters such as temporary injections, bail, production and remand.
• During the vacation periods, the deployment of staff shall be in the minimum as per the need to be decided by the presiding officer concerned. The staff on the roster shall remain in readiness to be called to duty as and when required.
• Bar associations/advocates are to be called upon to extend fullest cooperation in the implementation of above measures.