Source: barandbench.com Madras High Court had notified that from March 8 onwards they will conduct limited physical hearings. The decision was taken in light of surge in COVID-19 cases in some parts Chennai and Tamil Nadu. The notification said that Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee has directed that cases at the Principal and the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court would be heard only through virtual or hybrid mode from March 8, until further orders. In the hybrid mode, only the judges and the law officers of the State or Central governments or standing counsel of Public Sector Undertakings would appear physically, while all other parties and counsel will appear through video conference. Filing of cases and other documents would be through physical modes at the respective counters provided at the South Gate of the High Court's principal Bench, subject to compliance with COVID-19 protocol. With regard to the Madurai Bench, a separate notification is to be issued by the Additional Registrar General, Madurai Bench. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Saturday notified that it will commence limited hybrid physical hearings from March 15. The top court has been functioning via video conference since March 23, 2020 after Covid-19 pandemic broke out.
