LAHORE: Considering the prevailing situation of Covid-19 (coronavirus) worldwide, including Pakistan, the Lahore High Court on Saturday approved different precautionary measures that also include “no handshaking” to be observed by all those visiting the courts in the provincial metropolis.

An extended meeting of the judges presided over by Chief Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh decided that only those litigants or parties or officials would be allowed to enter the courtrooms who had been specifically required or directed to attend a hearing in person.

A circular issued after the meeting said that only those lawyers who are supposed to argue or attend to a particular case in a court, would be allowed into the courtrooms and no associate or junior lawyer would be permitted to accompany him.

Lawyers, litigants stopped from unnecessary court visits

It required the lawyers, litigant parties and officials to not to visit the courts if their cases were not fixed for the day to avoid overcrowding.

“Police personnel at main gate entrance, parking entrance, main building entrance, court room premises, must wear face masks during working hours and not to shake hands,” said the directive.

It said the floor and work surfaces of the courtrooms and the premises as well as workplaces would be disinfected at least twice a day during the working hours. Employees whose immediate family members (if) suffered from the infection had been directed to inform the concerned authority for further action.

The circular said all employees must wash their hands upon arrival prior to joining their workplace across the province.

They had also been advised against handshake, making physical contact or hugging each others as greeting etc.

“All the above measures be taken till the situation gets better and the present threat of coronavirus is averted,” said the circular.

Earlier in the day, Punjab Minister for Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Social Welfare Raja Basharat also called on Chief Justice Sheikh and apprised him of the steps taken by the government to protect the masses against coronavirus.

The minister took the chief justice in confidence on the government’s decision of barring the prisoners from appearing in courts. He also shared details of the decision of banning public and family meetings with the prisoners.

He said it was the government’s responsibility to protect the lives and property of the people that would be ensured in all circumstances.

Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2020