Telangana HC launches 'virtual court' after 8 staffers test COVID +Ve

Hyderabad: Eight staff members of the Telangana High Court have tested positive for COVID-19 following which the court launched a mobile videoconference facility on 29 June.

The first case was a constable from the special police protection deployed at the High Court followed by a clerk. Seven members of the clerk's family had tested positive for the virus and subsequently, he had also contracted it. The virus had then spread to six more staff members of the court.

On Monday, the High Court inaugurated a mobile videoconference facility. The mobile van will go to remote places in the state so that advocates can make use of the mobile facility and address the virtual court. Earlier too, the court had started a virtual court but many lawyers were unable to access it and attend the virtual court proceedings due to inadequate facilities and the court's remote functioning amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the state.

The High Court has designated Kamineni Hospital at L B Nagar for officers and staff members of the high court. The Registrar General of the High Court states "upon considering the spike of Corona cases and looking into the health and safety issues if the officers and staff members of the high court and the subordinate Judiciary in the state of Telangana including Contract and outsourcing employees, the high court has assigned Kamineni Hospital as it's designated primary hospital." In addition to the designated Covid hospital, the court has also informed the designated hospital in the district headquarters to provide treatment to those staff members who are found to be Covid-19 Positive