Delhi HC and Subordinate Courts To Continue Restrictive Functioning Till May 3 In Light of Lockdown Extension [Read Notice]

As per the decision taken by the Administrative and Supervision Committee of the Delhi High Court, the restrictive functioning of the courts subordinate to the High Court will also be extended till May 3.

The Government of India, by a notification dated 15/04/2020, has extended the nationwide lockdown till May 3, in order to contain the further spreading of the COVID19 virus.

As per the office order released by the Registrar General of the court, the services of the Delhi High Court will also remain suspended till May 3 on similar terms which are in operation right now.

The order has, however, clarified that while the court will continue to hear urgent matters through video conferencing, the Benches hearing the matter will be increased.

All the pending matters listed before this Court (including the courts of Registrars and Joint Registrars) during the period from 16.04.2020 to 02.05.2020 would stand adjourned to June and July.

The District and Sessions Judges may permit the judges and order office staff to work from home, wherever possible. Moreover, all subordinate courts are asked to ensure that hearings are conducted through video conferencing by using the Cisco WebEx app.

'Online training about the manner of use of said software be given to all the Judicial officers and court-staff through the Centralized Computer Committee. Such Centralized Computer Committee would, from time to time, seek necessary instructions from IT Committee of this Court on the aspect of VC Hearing and would also ensure that there is complete uniformity amongst all Districts in this regard', the order states.

It is further stated that each District and Sessions Judge would be at liberty to:

1. take appropriate steps to personally ensure that the mechanism of mentioning of urgent matters in the concerned District is quick and efficient and
2. depute judicial officers for hearing the matters, related to bail and urgent civil/injunction cases, corresponding to the need and requirement of the concerned District.
3. For any hearing taking place within the court complex, it is to be ensured that the norm of social distancing is scrupulously adhered to.

Click Here To Download Notice

[Read Notice]