Quarantine curfew : Courts won’t function regularly: BASL

The courts in areas where quarantine curfew has been imposed will not function for regular work, according to the Bar Association of Sri Lanka (BASL).

Accordingly, in Hulftsdorp, the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, Civil Appellate High Courts, Commercial High Courts, Provincial High Courts, District Courts, and Magistrates’ Courts will not function as they are situated in the Keselwatte police area, where there is a curfew declared.

In the above courts, the cases due to be mentioned and called, trials, and other matters will be postponed by way of a notice published.

It is also announced that the Magistrate’s Court in Hulftsdorp will function only for the limited purpose of extension of remand orders, which will be done automatically through Skype, and it will apply only in respect of courthouses located in places where a curfew is in operation.

In areas where there is no curfew in operation, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has informed the judges to take appropriate decisions in consultation with the local bars and health authorities.

In such an instance, reliance will be placed on the circulars already issued by the JSC, according to the BASL.

Meanwhile, the Registrar of the Supreme Court has announced that all the cases that are scheduled to be taken up on the dates where curfew is imposed will be rescheduled, and the new dates will be notified later.