Bhubaneswar: The Orissa High Court has decided to conduct court proceedings in virtual mode on May 21 amid the ongoing fuel crisis affecting transportation and daily operations across Odisha. The decision was announced through an official notification issued by the High Court administration.
According to the notification, all benches of the court will function virtually on the specified date to minimise travel requirements and ensure uninterrupted judicial proceedings during the fuel shortage situation.
The High Court further stated that vacation benches functioning during the Summer Vacation 2026 period will also continue operating online.
To maintain essential administrative work, only 50 percent of staff members will remain physically present at the court premises, while the remaining personnel will function under revised roster arrangements.
Officials and staff members not attending physically have been instructed to remain accessible through telephone and electronic communication during official working hours.
The court administration has also advised advocates, litigants and government officials to follow prescribed virtual hearing guidelines to prevent disruptions in judicial functioning during the ongoing crisis.
The move is being viewed as a precautionary administrative measure aimed at balancing operational continuity with logistical constraints arising from the fuel supply situation in the state.
