PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has devised a comprehensive plan to tackle the Covid-19 emergency on resumption of work in all benches of the court from April 20 and bound the litigants and visitors to wear face masks and gloves on the court premises.

A team of doctors of basic health unit (BHU) at the high court has rolled out crash training courses encapsulating the protection regime to be followed by the officers and staff of the court. The staff and officers were equipped with personal protective equipment.

According to a press release, PHC Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth had issued directives to the relevant staff to chalk out a comprehensive plan for tackling the situation emerging because of the coronavirus.

Presently, the litigants and other visitors are examined at the entry and individuals showing symptoms of Covid-19 are restricted from entering the court.

High court adopts plan to tackle Covid-19 emergency

The visitors, staff and officers pass through strict corona protection protocol by checking their temperature through thermal guns and passing through disinfectants emitted through mist fans.

On entry, the visitors are instructed to wash their hands and use hand sanitisers. Washbasins have been installed and necessary public health advisories displayed on different notice boards.

Special precautionary measures are followed with respect to the judicial record. The official record passes through a series of disinfections before reaching the judges.

Likewise, an awareness campaigns have been carried out inside and outside the court premises to prevent spread of the virus.

The main hall and passages are also disinfected with sprays. The statement said that the cause lists displayed on the notice board of the courts and e-kiosk had been abandoned as this added to the risk of spreading the disease.

The central control room of the high court keeps an eye on the staff, officers and visitors with a view to ensure social distancing and other precautionary measures.

PHC registrar Khawaja Wajihuddin, while speaking at the conclusion of Covid-19 protection training course for the officers and staff of the court, said this pandemic could be controlled if they observed and followed their civic responsibility.

A collective Dua (pray) was also made to save the countrymen and the mankind from coronavirus infection.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2020