Shillong, June 30: Subordinate courts in Meghalaya would resume functioning, primarily through video conferencing on an “experimental basis” from July 1 in view of requests received from the Bar Associations.

However physical functioning of the High Court of Meghalaya will continue to remain suspended till July 31.

“The modalities for taking up matters of extreme urgency as already notified in the circular dated 25th March, 2020 shall continue,” an order issued by the High Court Registrar General, Belma Mawrie said on Tuesday.

“In order to ensure compliance of all social distancing norms and health procedures, the functioning of the subordinate courts shall be through video conferencing as well as by physical court hearing,” the order said while pronouncing protocols for the same.

“There shall be a division in the sitting and functioning of each court. Each Judgeship shall function physically at one-third of its strength each day, strictly on rotational basis,” the order said.

“In a district like Shillong, where there are altogether eight courts, the district judge shall ensure operation of two or three courts every day, to be followed by another two or three courts on the subsequent day, so on and so forth,” the order specified.

“All cases are to be filed at the filing counters to be identified by the District Judge(s), keeping in view the social distancing norms,” the order said.

“Advocates, aged 65 years or more, can appear and argue the cases through video conferencing only, as they will not be allowed to enter the Court premises,” the order laid down.

“The advocates appearing in the Court must wear face cover/mask and shall adhere to all necessary conditions prescribed for social and physical distancing,” the order read, adding that advocates would have to leave the court premises immediately after hearing of their cases are complete.

“No advocate shall be permitted to roam/linger around the precincts of the Court,” the order said, adding that sitting arrangements inside the courts would be inclusive of six persons only, including the presiding officer.

Stating that all persons entering the court premises would have to observe all health protocols and maintain social distancing, the order also said that frequent sanitization of the court premises, common facilities and all points which come into human contact like door knobs, chairs, tables would have to be ensured.