COVID: Delhi High Court, District Courts To Resume Physical Functioning In Restricted Manner

The Full Court of the Delhi High Court has resolved that Physical hearings in the Delhi High Court as well as the District Courts will be resumed from September 6 and August 31 respectively in a restricted manner. 

System Of Hearings Before High Court

The office order issued with regards to the system of hearings before the High Court states that all the Benches as well as the Courts of Registrars/ Joint Registrars (Judicial) shall continue to take up urgent matters, as per the existing arrangement, through video-conferencing till September 3.

Furthermore, it has been stated that all other pending routine/ non-urgent matters listed before the Court from August 16 to September 3 shall stand adjourned en bloc.

"The Hon'ble Full Court has further been pleased to resolve that physical hearings in this Court be resumed in a restricted manner w.e.f. 06.09.2021, provided the scale and magnitude of the Covid-19 pandemic in the NCT of Delhi remains well under control. Subject to the above, w.e.f. 06.09.2021, suitable number of Benches of this Court, for physical hearings, shall be constituted as per the directions of Hon'ble The Chief Justice and the remaining Benches shall continue to take up the matters through video-conferencing as per the existing system of listing of matters," the office order reads.

It has also been stated that a roster shall be prepared for the said courts in such a manner that they hold court physically once a week and that on physical hearing days, the Courts shall permit hybridvideo conferencing hearing where a request to such efect is made by any of the parties and/ or their counsel.

System Of Hearings Before District Courts

"The Hon'ble Full Court has further been pleased to resolve that physical hearings in the District Courts in Delhi be resumed in a restricted manner w.e.f. 31.08.2021, provided the scale and magnitude of the Covid-19 pandemic in the NCT of Delhi remains well under control," the office order reads.

It has also been clarified that the courts exercising criminal jurisdiction shall give top priority to those cases where the accused are in custody as well as to 5 years old cases. On the other hand, it has been stated that the courts, exercising civil jurisdiction, shall, on physical days, take up those matters which are more than 5 years old and/or those which are time-bound.

"On physical hearing days, the Courts shall pemit hybrid/video conferencing hearing where a request to such effect is made by any of the parties and/ or their counsel," the office order reads.

Furthermore, all the Principal District & Sessions Judges and Principal Judge, Family Court are directed to prepare the roster of judicial officers in such a manner that every judicial officer holds physical court once a week w.e.f. 31 August while others continue to hold courts through video-conferencing, as per the existing arrangement, on non-physical days.

"All the Principal District & Sessions Judges and Principal Judge, Family Court (HQs) shall issue directions for regulating entry in the court premises and for ensuring that the norms related to covid-appropriate behaviour and social distancing are adhered to by all concerned. The necessary arrangements for production of UTPs be made in co-ordination with Prison and Lock-up authorities," the office order reads further.

All the stakeholders are further advised to get vaccinated at the earliest.

Click Here To Read Office Order- High Court

Click Here To Read Office Order- District Courts