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The Allahabad High Court has issued revised guidelines allowing full functioning of District Courts (including Tribunals) with 100% strength of Judicial Officers with effect from February 8. Through the latest order, the court has modified earlier guidelines on the functioning of District Courts and Tribunals.

The earlier guidelines that the District Judge shall ensure that 50% Judicial Officers of the total strength shall attend the Court at a time, on a rotation basis, has now been withdrawn. Meaning thereby, now all the judicial officers will now hold their courts. 

Further, the earlier order to District Judges for ensuring minimal entry of Court Staff in Court premisses has also been withdrawn, therefore, 100% Court staff shall also be utilized by District Courts and tribunals.

The High Court Registrar General has issued a letter on February 6 in this regard to all the District Judges and to the Presiding Officers of the other Courts/ Tribunals subordinate to the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad.

Earlier, due to the rise in the Covid cases, multiple guidelines had been issued by the High Court which, other than the abovementioned, had mainly included exemption of the pregnant lady Judicial Officers/ staff from attending the Court. Litigants or other representatives had also been strictly prohibited in the Court premises. These guidelines are still in force.

The instant order provides for the following modifications in the earlier orders-

1. The point No. 1 of the guidelines issued vide letter No. 2427/LXXXVII-CPC/e-Courts/Allahabad dated 16 January 2022 stands withdrawn. 
2. The point No. 7 of the guidelines issued vide letter No. 2423/LXXXVII-CPC/e-Courts/Allahabad dated 09 January 2022 stands withdrawn.
3. Remaining guidelines with respect to functioning of the Courts issued vide letter No. 2419/LXXXVII-CPC/e-Courts/Allahabad dated 02.01.2022, letter No. 2423/LXXXVII-CPC/e- Courts/Allahabad dated 09.01.2022 and vide letter No. 2427/LXXXVII-CPC/e-Courts/ Allahabad dated 16 January 2022, shall remain same.

Accordingly, all the District Judges have been requested to take necessary steps at their ends to ensure compliance with the directions given by the High Court.