Six-day week for courts in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry

CHENNAI: All courts in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will work for six days a week, except second and fourth Saturdays henceforth.
A decision to this effect was taken by the administrative committee of the high court, which met here on Tuesday.
Also, facing the wrath of lawyers, who have been barred to enter their cambers in court premises, officials have decided to allow lawyers to access their chambers on campuses for two days -- on May 6 and 7.
Advocates will be permitted to take their case briefs and other required documents from their chambers during the weekend. The decision comes after members of the Bar expressed their inability to participate in the virtual court hearings without their case bundles kept in the chambers.
However, the primary demand of lawyers to reopen regular open court hearing is likely to be turned down by the high court. The present set up to conduct the hearing through video conferencing is to continue till the Covid-19 situation eases across the state.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the Bar council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry gave a representation to the Chief Justice AP Sahi requesting reopening of regular court hearing in its principal seat at Madras and all subordinate courts.
"Almost 98% of the advocates are not comfortable with the virtual court hearings. The common feedback seems to be that the advocates are unable to present their cases effectively in the virtual courts and the same is acting as a major impediment for advocates to consent for such virtual hearings," the representation signed by chairperson of the council PS Amalraj said.
The council suggested that open court hearing might be followed by restricting the hearing to only urgent motions in writs, appellate, original and criminal side.