Emergency civil cases to be heard in lower court: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has ruled that urgent civil and succession cases can be heard and disposed of in the lower court by ensuring physical and social distance and other hygiene rules.

In this regard, a practice guideline containing chief justice's directive was issued in the form of a notification from the Supreme Court administration on Saturday.

The notification said that the chief justice, in consultation with the senior judges of the Supreme Court, decided about the directive.

The judge will determine the necessary procedures for ensuring social distance including observance of hygiene rules in the courtroom and will complete the next legal proceedings regarding the hearing.

The statement further said that the judges would decide the succession cases in compliance with the rules of hygiene while maintaining physical and social distance and taking necessary testimony.

Along with coordinating the procedure and schedule, hearing and disposal of urgent applications and succession and civil cases can be held in such a way that risky public gatherings will not take place on the court premises.

Everyone on the court premises and in courtroom must ensure physical distance of at least six feet from each other and avoid all types of public gatherings. 

No more than six people can be accommodated in the sitting room at a time. If there is no legal requirement for the parties to the case to be present at the said hearing, only a lawyer appointed by both the parties in the relevant case will be present in the courtroom.

The notification further said everyone in the courtroom must wear a face mask. Arrangements should be made to check everyone's body temperature at the time of entering the court. 

The judge may take other ancillary measures, including refraining from holding a hearing in the event of an immediate situation, in order to strictly maintain physical distance, including hygiene in the courtroom.

The directive will take effect immediately and will remain in force until further notice, said the notification.