[BREAKING] Delhi High Court to hold only virtual hearings till April 23 in view of rising COVID-19 cases

Given the alarming COVID-19 situation in the national capital, the Delhi High Court has decided to once again migrate to fully virtual hearings till April 23. .The decision comes into effect from tomorrow i.e. April 9. .Along with the High Court, all district courts subordinate to the High Court shall also hold only virtual hearings till April 24. .Before the High Court and the lower courts, all matters fixed for evidence shall be adjourned and no adverse orders shall be passed in case of non-appearance of parties and/or counsel. .It is also directed that necessary arrangements shall be made for extension of remand of undertrial prisoners by lower courts and wherever required, they may be produced through video conferencing. .A decision to this effect was taken in a Full Court meeting of the High Court today. .After nearly a year, the High Court had resumed complete physical functioning from March 15, making virtual hearings an exception and not the norm.However, a week into the physical hearings, it once again permitted virtual hearings/hybrid hearings in cases before it.The decision to permit virtual hearings came shortly after the Supreme Court said that it expected the High Court to show accommodation when a person requests for virtual hearing unless the same is sought to be used as an excuse to seek an adjournment.While refusing to interfere with the High Court's decision of mandatory physical hearings, the top court had made it clear that the manner of opening of courts or continuing with virtual courts was something that was to be handled at the administrative level of the Delhi High Court..Read the Notices: