Delhi HC To Continue With Restricted Physical Hearings, Number of Benches For Physical Hearings Reduced To 3

The Delhi High Court has decided to continue with the current hybrid model of both physical and virtual hearings.

However, the number of Benches notified for conducting physical hearings have been reduced to 3 in light of rise in the number of COVID19 cases in the national capital.

As per the decision taken by the Administrative and Supervision Committee of the Delhi High Court, the restrictive functioning of the High Court through physical hearings has been extended till October 08.

Earlier, the court had decided to resume the physical hearings on rotational basis by issuing the following notice:

'To begin with, on experimental basis, around one-fourth of the courts can resume physical functioning on a rotational basis while the rest can continue taking up matters through videoconferencing. A comprehensive plan on the above lines will be prepared by the undersigned and placed before the "Committee for Preparation of Graded Action Plan" and thereafter before the Full Court for consideration.'

It has also been ordered that all the benches in the High Court shall also endeavour to take up 20 oldest 'Regular/final category matters' pending on their respective boards through video conferencing mode.

The Courts of Registrars and Joint Registrars of this Court shall take up matters listed before them through videoconferencing. However, evidence shall be recorded only in ex-parte and uncontested matters where the same is required to be tendered by way of affidavit.

These District and Sessions Courts will continue to function restrictively as per the existing guidelines.