Reopen District Courts in phased manner: Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations of Delhi writes to Chief Justice DN Patel

The Coordination Committee of All District Court Bar Associations of Delhi has written to Delhi High Court Chief Justice, DN Patel urging that District Courts be reopened in a phased manner..The letter dated June 29, 2021 highlighted various grave concerns being faced by an overwhelming majority of the advocates practicing before Delhi's District Courts in the wake of the second wave of COVID-19 and the subsequent closure of Courts..The letter has referred to a notice issued earlier this week by the Registrar General of the Delhi High Court stating that District Courts will continue hearing only urgent matters through videoconferencing till July 23, 2021..BREAKING: Delhi High Court to hear only urgent cases via Video Conferencing until July 23 [Read Notification].The Committee stated that while it understood the reasons underlying such steps, it was no longer a secret that the legal community was the worst hit by the lockdown in terms of lives lost and financial hardships..“Lawyers, clerks of lawyers and other ancillary working staffs lost their lives during the second wave of COVID. The financial position of legal community has deteriorated to its worst time low", stated the letter. .It was further pointed out that the Delhi Government, in tandem with the Centre, had reopened businesses, offices, shops, gyms, parks, public transport, etc. Thus the working of Courts should also start in a phased manner, the Committee appealed.."Under these circumstances, we request you with folded hands to start the working of the Courts in a phased manner," the letter stated..Further, the Committee has highlighted that almost all judges, lawyers and support staff had been vaccinated..In its letter, the Committee has also suggested how the courts may be reopened. .In this regard, the Committee suggested that all matters be taken up through video conferencing, instead of only urgent matters till July 23. Thereafter, the physical working of the courts can be initiated from July 24 onwards, wherein one-fourth the court can work each day..The letter added that a review can be conducted towards the end of July, to ascertain if the situation is under control. Following this, the courts can resume proper working from August onwards, it was proposed..."We request you to kindly take urgent measures and pass appropriate directions in the matter to help the legal community which is currently in a dire state," the letter concluded. .The letter has been signed off by chairman Karnail Singh, spokesperson Sanjeev Nair and Secretary-General, Divya Darshan Sharma on behalf of the District Court Bar Associations of Delhi..Read letter here: