Karnataka high court stops entry of litigants, visitors due to coronavirus

 To prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state, the Karnataka high court issued a notice stating that there will not allow litigants and visitors to enter Karnataka high court and premises of other courts

Bengaluru: Due to coronavirus outbreak, the Karnataka high court issued a notice stating that the entry of litigants and visitors to the high court and other courts is stopped until further notice.

The notice issued by registrar general Rajendra Badamikar says, "From March 19, 2020, entry of litigants and visitors to the precincts of High Court of Karnataka, Principal Bench at Bengaluru and Benches at Dharwad and Kalaburgi, and all Court precincts in the City of Bengaluru (City Civil Court, District Courts, and other courts of Bengaluru Rural District functioning in Bengaluru City, Chief Metropolitan Magistrates' Courts, Mayo Hall Courts, Family Courts, Labour Courts and Industrial Tribunals) and all Courts and Tribunals in Kalaburagi City will not be allowed."

Meanwhile, to prevent the spread of coronavirus in the state, the Karnataka government has announced that it has extended partial shutdown till March 31. On March 14, Karnataka chief minister BS Yediyurappa had ordered that schools, malls, night clubs, cinemas, and bars will be shut for a week.

The chief minister told the Assembly that the state has reported 14 positive cases of coronavirus till now. Details of the 14th case has not been released yet. He added that a task force composed of health minister B Sriramulu, medical education minister K Sudhakar, home minister Basavaraj Bommai and chief secretary Vijay Bhaskar has been formed to tackle the spread of the virus. 

It is also reported that all forms of mass gatherings have been restricted with weddings not permitted to have more than 150 guests. No political meetings or rallies will be allowed till further orders.