The Ranchi civil courts resumed proceedings on Friday while following social-distancing protocols.

As many as 50 petitions were filed on the first day.

Confirming the development, secretary of District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Abhishek Kumar said work was started in accordance with the directive of Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice Ravi Ranjan, who wanted quick disposal of important cases.

Asked to elaborate on the steps taken to ensure social distancing on the premises, Kumar said: 'Two drop boxes have been installed at the entrances to the premises where advocates have been directed to drop their petitions and applications between 8am and 10am every day. The petitions will be sanitised after 24 hours and forwarded to the court concerned for hearing.'

Kumar said hearing would take place through video conference. “Prosecution, defense lawyers and judges of each court have been asked to use three apps to work from their home. They can see each other during an argument,” he said.

General secretary of Ranchi District Bar Association, Kundan Prakashan, said the new system would help expedite the disposal of cases.

'Several old cases are pending and several new ones are getting piled up. With this system the judiciary, which has virtually stopped working during the lockdown, can function properly. There will be teething problems for those who are not tech savvy, but finally it will prove to be a boon,' Prakashan said.

He said visitors to the civil courts were being scanned.