Giving respite to the litigants, the Delhi High Court registry today announced that Physical Hearings with restriction will resume in the Delhi High Court and the District Courts from February 14 onwards. Thereafter from March 2, complete physical hearings will start, bringing the judicial system back to its normal.
In an office order, issued on February 11, the Delhi High Court registry directed that a suitable number of Benches shall be constituted as per directions of the Chief Justice for holding physical hearings with effect from February 14, while the remaining Benches are to continue to take up matters through video-conferencing.
Through a separate order, the Principal District and Sessions Judges and the Principal Judge of Family Courts in the national capital have been directed to prepare a roster of judicial officers in a manner so as to ensure that around 50% of the total strength of judicial officers hold the court physically while the others take up matters through virtual mode.
“The aforesaid arrangement shall continue up to February 28, 2022, and from March 02 onwards complete resumption of physical hearings will take place,” the order reads.
“After the complete resumption of the physical hearing, the Courts may, in exceptional circumstances on a case-to-case basis, permit hybrid/ video-conferencing hearing,” adds the order.
Furthermore, all the Advocates, staff officials, litigants, and other visitors to the Courts have been directed to follow all the Covid-19 protocols, guidelines, and directions issued by the Government and court administration from time to time. In addition, all stakeholders are advised to get themselves vaccinated at the earliest.
In view of the sudden spurt and spike in Covid-19 cases in December last, the Delhi High court had notified on December 30, 2021, that all courts i.e the Delhi High Court and the District Courts would function through video-conferencing mode only, from January 3, 2022, onwards. The said directions were further extended on January 12, considering the still prevailing situation of Covid-19 at that time./LAB/SNG/