As torrential rains threw life out of gear, leading to waterlogging and overflowing of drains in several areas of the National Capital Region, several courts and tribunals opted for hybrid hearing on Monday.
The Supreme Court suggested the Benches to shift to hybrid mode for hearing matters listed for Monday, while assuring the lawyers that no adverse order would be passed against them. Similar communiques were issued by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) and the National Company Law Tribunal.
Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, while considering the requests of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA), assured the lawyers that no adverse orders would be passed in their absence on July 10.
The CJI further conveyed his sincere wishes that all the members of the Bar, interns, clerks, staff and the families continue to remain safe.
The communication issued by the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) said that considering the torrential rains continuing since July 7 and the Orange Alert issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) for July 10, some Benches have shifted to other courtrooms because of the leakage.
The DHCBA further said that no adverse orders will be passed by the High Court in case lawyers were unable to present themselves before the court on July 10.
It said a request to this effect was made by the Association to High Court Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, which the Chief Justice agreed.
It said the Division Bench of Justice Sanjiv Sachdeva and Justice Manoj Jain, which were to sit at courtroom no 2, have shifted to courtroom no 3.
Similarly, the Division Bench of Justice VK Rao and Justice AK Mendiratta, which was to hear cases at court room no 4, will be shifted to courtroom no 9.
The Bench of Justice Vibhu Bhakru and Justice Amit Mahajan, which was to hear the cases at courtroom no 6, has been shifted to courtroom no 29 in Extension Block.
The National Company Law Tribunal issued a statement on Monday, stating that the NCLT Building situated at Lodhi Road, New Delhi was water logged and being inspected by CPWD for Civil and Electric faults.
The Tribunal directed the Benches to attend the matters through virtual hearing mode.
It further ordered the members of Bar and litigants not to come for physical hearing, adding that no adverse order would be passed against them for not attending the proceedings in person.