Covid-19: Delhi High Court resumes physical functioning partially

Delhi High Court. File Pic

The Delhi High Court, which has been holding virtual proceedings since March 2020, resumed its physical hearings in a restricted manner after a gap of nearly five months due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Presently, two-division benches and 10 single-judge benches are conducting proceedings physically and the remaining benches are continuing to take up matters through video conferencing. Most of the judges, who are sitting on physical hearing, are also conducting hybrid proceedings or video conferencing where a request to such an effect is made by the parties.

Since March 2020, the high court has been holding proceedings through video conferencing following the outbreak of Covid-19 and subsequently, few benches had started holding physical courts everyday on a rotation basis. While the high court had resumed complete physical hearing from March 15, it had decided on April 8 that from April 9, it would take up matters through virtual mode only in view of the rise in Covid-19 cases during the second wave.

Following the outbreak of Covid-19 in March last year, the court was holding proceedings through video conferencing. Its functioning was restricted to urgent matters from March 16 last year. Thereafter, from March 25 last year, the functioning of the high court and district courts was further restricted and no physical hearing was being conducted due to the spread of Covid-19.

Subsequently, from September last year a few benches started holding physical courts everyday on a rotation basis. Some of them also started holding hybrid proceedings, wherein lawyers have the option to attend the hearing via video conference instead of appearing in person. The high court, in its administrative order, has advised all the stakeholders to get themselves vaccinated at the earliest.

Also Read: SC Bar Association writes to SC against conditions attached on resuming physical hearing

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