[BREAKING] Restricted physical hearings to resume in Delhi High Court from September 6, in District Courts from August 31

The Delhi High Court has informed that it would resume physical hearings on a restricted basis from September 6, 2021 onwards, provided COVID-19 situation in Delhi remains under control. .The notification issued to this effect today also states that even when restricted physical hearings resume, video or hybrid hearings would be allowed upon request by the counsel or party. .As per the notification, a Full Court has decided as follows:.All Benches of the High Court and the courts of the Registrars/ Joint Registrars (Judicial) shall continue to take up urgent matters as per the existing arrangement through video conferencing till September 3, 2021. Other pending routine or non-urgent matters listed from August 16 till September 3 have been adjourned en bloc as detailed in the notification. The Full Court has resolved that physical hearings of the Delhi High Court will resume in a restricted manner with effect from September 6, 2021, provided the scale and magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic in Delhi remains well under control. A suitable number of Benches of the High Court will be constituted to hear matters physically in line with the directions of the Delhi High Court Chief Justice and the remaining Benches will continue hearing matters through the existing video conferencing system. Registrar and Joint Registrar (Judicial) shall take up all matters as per their respective causelists with effect from September 6. A roster will be prepared for these courts in such a manner so that they hold court physical once a week from September 6. On physical hearing days, the Courts shall also permit hybrid or video conferencing hearings where a request to such an effect is made by any of the parties of their counsel..By a separate notification, it has been intimated that restricted physical hearings in the District Courts of Delhi will resume from August 31 onwards, provided COVID-19 situation is well under control. .Principal District and Sessions Judges and the Principal Judge, Family Court are to prepare a roster of judicial officers so that every judicial officer holds physical court once a week from August 31. Others would continue holding video-conference hearings as per existing arrangements on non-physical days..During physical hearings, courts exercising criminal jurisdiction shall give priority to those cases where the accused are in custody and to cases that are five years old..Civil courts are to take up matters over five years old or which are time-bound during physical hearings..As has been intimated with respect to the High Court, in the District Courts as well, hybrid and video conferencing hearing would be permitted on physical hearing days upon request by the parties or counsel..The Principal District and Sessions Judges and the Principal Judge, Family Court have also been asked to issue directions to regulate entry into court premises and for ensuring that COVID appropriate behaviour is adhered to by all concerned..All stakeholders are advised to get themselves vaccinated at the earliest, the notification added..[Read Notifications]