Delhi HC judges to hold physical hearings from March 15
The Delhi High Court on Saturday issued an office order stating that from March 15 all its judges would hold a physical hearing of cases. The office order issued by Registrar General Manoj Jain said the existing system under which only 11 benches, two-division benches of two judges each, and nine single-judge benches, hear matters via the physical mode would continue till March 12.
Matters will be taken up as per existing listing arrangement
The office order said, "The Full Court is pleased to order that the existing system of hearing the matters in this court shall continue up to March 12, 2021." All benches of the court shall hold physical courts on a daily basis with effect from March 15 and shall continue to take up matters as per the existing arrangement of listing, it added.
In exceptional cases, HC might permit proceedings through video conferencing
The order further said that in exceptional cases, the HC might permit any of the parties and/or their lawyers to join the proceedings through video conferencing, subject to the availability of requisite infrastructure. All pending routine or non-urgent matters listed before it from February 22 to March 26 would be adjourned en bloc to dates between April 15 and May 20, it added.
Eleven benches hold physical courts every day on rotation basis
At present, 11 benches of the High Court hold physical courts every day on a rotation basis and some of them also hold hybrid proceedings, wherein lawyers have the option to attend the hearing via video conference instead of appearing in person.
Advocates, litigants and other visitors to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines
It also urged advocates, litigants, and other visitors to the court to "strictly adhere to norms of social distancing and other COVID-19 related guidelines." The HC on January 14 had decided to increase the number of judges who would be hearing cases physically from January 18 onwards "in view of the decline in the intensity of spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the national capital."
Functioning of courts was restricted in March last year
Prior to January 18, only two to three benches were holding physical courts daily on a rotation basis. The High Court had, on March 25, 2020, restricted its functioning as well as that of the district courts till April 14, 2020. It was subsequently extended from time to time till January 16, 2021.
Physical hearing had partially resumed in August
On August 27, 2020, the court decided to partially resume physical hearing of matters from September 1, by two division benches and three single-judge benches on a rotation basis. It was later scaled down to one division bench and two single-judge benches in view of the rise in COVID-19 cases in Delhi and a majority of the lawyers indicating their preference for virtual hearing.
