Delhi High Court decides to not restrict virtual hearings to 'very urgent matters'; pending matters may also be taken up when urgency arises

Pursuant to a representation made by the Delhi High Court Bar Association, the Delhi High Court has decided to hear "all kinds of urgent matters" during the lockdown period, and not restrict its virtual hearings to 'very urgent matters'..Besides fresh urgent matters, when urgency arises in pending matters, the same will also be considered on a case-to-case basis through video conferencing..A decision to this effect was taken by the Administrative Committee of the High Court. .The other directions passed by the High Court are as follows:- The number of Benches stands increased from one Division Bench to two and from two Single Benches to four Single Benches.-Matters mentioned before High Court for listing will initially be examined by the Registrars/Joint Registrars. If the request is declined, on receiving a request for reconsideration through a link already developed by the High Court, the same will be re- examined by Justice Hima Kohli. The aspect of urgency thus to be finally decided by the Court itself.- Soon, even mentioning before Joint Registrar will also be through a link which is being developed by the IT committee.- Directions issued to District Courts are also on the same lines. However, final decision on the aspect of urgency be taken only by the concerned judicial officer.- Two courtrooms i.e court rooms no. 20 and 23 situated on the ground floor of the Main Building may be used for video conferencing by those advocates/litigants who are not in a position to handle hearings through video conferencing from their respective homes/offices..Fucntioning of the High Court has been limited to very urgent matters since March 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown ordered by the Central Government. .The Court has been issuing guidleines from time-to-time to streamline the process of filing and hearing such matters through video conferencing. .Lockdown: Delhi HC issues further directions to streamline the process of mentioning, allows re-submission of request through a weblink .In terms of the latest lockdown guidelines, the normal functioning of the courts in the city has been suspended till May 3. .[Lockdown Extension] Delhi High Court functioning suspended till May 3; More Benches to hear matters through video conferencing