The Delhi High Court administration has on Friday partially modified its January 14 circular on the resumption of physical hearings, by clarifying that a hybrid system is being adopted to permit both physical and virtual hearings.
The office order passed by Registrar General Manoj Jain reads,
“Matters shall be taken up through physical mode as per the Roster of Sitting of the Hon’ble Judges of this Court. However, request for taking up any such matter through virtual mode shall be entertained by the Court wherever advance intimation is provided.”
The Court is working on a hybrid provision, enabling one side to be present in court and the other can opt for virtual hearing. For the time being, lawyers have an option to opt for virtual hearings.
A number of petitions were filed in the Supreme Court, after some sections of the Bar showed concern over the High Court’s earlier decision to resume physical hearings from January 18 for some Benches of the Court. The Apex Court had declined to interfere with Chief Justice S.A. Bobde “trusting” that the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice D.N. Patel, “will do the needful”.
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In the Chief Justice’s Court Room in the High Court, steps for setting up infrastructure for a hybrid system have already been initiated. In this regard , those comfortable with physical hearing can appear in accordance with the Standard Operating Protocol laid down by the High Court. Entry into court rooms is strictly regulated with norms of social distancing in place.