[Fake News Alert] No Notice Issued Saying Proceedings Shall Be Conducted Exclusively Via Virtual Mode: Delhi High Court Clarifies

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday clarified that no notice has been issued by the Court saying that complete functioning of the Court will be conducted exclusively via virtual mode till April 17th in view of the recent surge in covid-19 cases.

The clarification came in wake of a notice which was circulated on the social media including various groups claiming that the Court will exclusively start hearing the matters via virtual mode of hearings. The said notice was originally issued by the Patna High Court.

The confusion eliminated after Manoj Kumar Jain, Registrar General of the Delhi High Court clarified that no such statement has been issued by the Delhi High Court.

The Delhi High Court started physical hearings in full swing from March 15.

However, Administrative and General Supervision Committee of the Delhi High Court later resolved to permit hybrid hearings in cases where a request to that effect is made by the counsel of parties.

The notice issued by the Delhi High Court dated 19.03.2021 read:

"Hon'ble Administrative and General Supervision Committee in its meeting held on 19.3.2021 has been pleased to resolve that henceforth this Court shall permit hybrid/video conference hearing where a request to this effect is made by any of the parties and/or their counsel."

In view of this, directions were also issued by the Delhi High Court vide order dated 12 March 2021 to the administration to keep a close watch on the situation and take appropriate steps when physical hearing is resumed in the High Court and the Courts subordinate to it, with effect from March 15 onwards.

The same order also specified that the hearing through video conference, on or from March, would be the exception and not the norm and if allowed, the hearing would be entirely at the peril of the party requesting for the same.