Delhi High Court issues Standard Operating Procedure for physical hearings starting Monday

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for physical hearings starting Monday, November 22. .The notice listed out the precautions to be taken by advocates/party-in-persons for attending physical hearings and virtual court rooms. As per the notice, only the following persons are allowed to enter the court block:1. Only one Advocate accompanied by one Junior/lntern per party whose vakalatnama is on record or who has been duly authorized by such Advocate to appear and whose case is listed for hearing that day. 2. Senior Counsel engaged by any such Advocate. 3. Registered Clerk only for the limited purpose of delivering heavy and bulky case files of such Advocates at the designated point. Such -Clerk shall leave the court block and shall enter again only to recollect the same. 4. Standing/Nominated counsel for any of the party/entity whose cases are listed for physical hearing that day. 5. Party-in-person where such party is pursuing the case himself/herself without any legal assistance..It has been clarified that no entry shall be permitted to the relatives of any party-in-person/litigant, non-registered clerks, litigants represented by an advocate, persons over the age of 65 years and those suffering from co-morbidities, and persons displaying symptoms like flu, fever or cough..The SOP mentions that entry into the court block or court room is subject to compliance of all the directions/guidelines issued by the Central and Delhi governments with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic. These include:1. Wearing of mask all times 2. Undergoing thermal scanning at the designated entry points and random checking inside the court blocks.3. Sanitizing the hands before/at the time of entry. 4. Strict adherence to the norm of social distancing within the court-complex. 5. Social/physical distancing by maintaining a minimum distance of six feet. .Apart from the above, the SOP states that physical courts will function from all three blocks i.e. Block-A (Main Block), Block-B (Extension Block) & Block-C (New Block), and entry will only be permitted from designated points."DHCBA [Delhi High Court Bar Association] shall render due assistance in this regard by deputing Advocate(s) on rotational basis to facilitate smooth and better management," the SOP states.There is a restriction on the use of lift for going up to the first floor, and only three people have been permitted to enter it at one point.Advocates/parties-in-person have been directed to leave the court premises as soon as their matter is over..The SOP mentions the following arrangements that have been taken inside court rooms:1) In order to ensure strict adherence to the norm of social distancing, seats in each courtroom have been limited to bare minimum. 2) Entry in the court-room shall be permitted to those Advocates/party-in-person whose matter is called out for hearing and also for the Advocates whose item is the immediate next, subject to availability of space. 3) Rest of the Advocates shall wait outside the courtroom in the designated area for their turn, while maintaining social distancing norm. 4) The display boards shall be functional for their convenience and information. 5) Ordinarily, no request for pass over shall be entertained to ensure adherence to time slots, effectively regulating the entry and orderly conduct of cases..It is made clear that snacks, coffee, tea, water bottle etc. shall be available for sale from the kiosk and canteen. Consumption of snacks and beverages inside the canteen shall be subject to strict adherence to social distancing norms.The chambers of lawyers shall remain open as per the staggered timings proposed by the Delhi High Court Bar Association and approved by the High Court. Oath Commissioners and typists have been permitted to sit at the designated places on a rotational basis, subject to strict adherence to social distancing norms.The court fee counter and scanning facility will be available and manned by a requisite number of officials on a rotational basis, and only advocates will be permitted to visit the branches for making enquiries..With regard to the mentioning of matters, It has been made clear that the existing system working through the designated link shall continue till further orders.All urgent matters must be filed through the online e-filing module only, with reasons for urgency very clearly specified.All filing must be accompanied with the proof of payment of requisite court fee as well as an affidavit duly-attested by the Oath Commissioner. For the e-filing module, a scanned copy of the receipt of court fee/attested affidavit shall be uploaded. The notice further stated,"Registry shall ensure that the court fee, obtained online by the concerned Advocate/party, is duly cancelled/locked after verification.Urgent cases shall be listed before the Hon'ble Court as per Rules and after removal of objections. However, the listing before the Court shall be subject to administrative exigency.".Advocates have been permitted entry for using video-conferencing facility created at the ground floor of the Main Building (A Block).Entry through vehicles is only allowed from Gate Nos. 7 & 9, however, pedestrian entry would be permitted only from Gate no.5. The exit of the vehicles would be permitted from Gate Nos. 4, 7, and 9. Litigants are permitted entry to meet their respective lawyers in the Lawyers' Chamber Blocks as per the timings fixed by DHCBA. Such visits shall strictly be as per the approved timings.Strict directions have been passed regarding on-ground medical facilities at the Delhi High Court during Court hours:"Medical Facilities in the form of an additional Ambulance with complete infrastructure to tackle Covid-19 emergencies shall be stationed during working hours in the High Court. There shall be an earmarked room in the High Court dispensary designated as Covid-19 Isolation Room, to be used, as and when an infected person or a person reflecting Covid-19 symptoms is found. The infected/symptomatic person shall be immediately shifted to the Isolation Room till he/she is taken to the hospital, after which the Isolation Room shall be sanitized. The High Court dispensary shall depute extra medical and paramedical staff and enhance infrastructure as required." The caretakers and housekeeping staff have been directed to deep-clean and sanitize the court buildings..[READ SOP]