COVID-19: Functioning of HC, Subordinate Courts suspended till Aug 14

The functioning of the High Court of Delhi and all of its subordinate Courts in Delhi will remain suspended till Aug 14 in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation.

The Administrative & General Supervision Committee of Delhi HC while considering further extension of suspended functioning of HC & Subordinate Courts in view of the prevailing situation of the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the NCT of Delhi.

The Court order mentioned that the concerned committee has been pleased to extend the suspended functioning of the HC of Delhi (except for the Court of Registrars/ Joint Registrars) till Aug 14, 2020, on the same terms as contained in its Resolution dated June 13, 2020.

The Courts of Registrars & Joint Registrars of this Court shall take up matters listed before them through videoconferencing.
However, evidence shall be recorded only in ex-parte & uncontested matters where the same is required to be tendered by way of affidavit, it added.

According to the order by the High Court of Delhi, the Judicial officers shall be permitted to come to Court for holding videoconference hearings from their respective chambers only when they do not have the requisite technical infrastructure at their residences or where there is a breakdown of such infrastructure.

The Order reads, "Physical hearings shall be permitted in those matters only where a grave urgency is involved & hearing through videoconferencing is not feasible. For the pronouncement of judgment in a criminal case, wherever required, the judicial officer may come to court for the same. In all such instances of physical hearings, the norm of social distancing be scrupulously adhered to".

The same committee had earlier too extended the suspension of the functioning of the courts & taking note of the prevalent situation.

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