After observing the situation and increasing Corona Virus cases, the Delhi High Court and Subordinate Courts of Delhi High Court have decided to further extend the suspension of the opening of physical courts till August 31. The courts shall continue the filing of new cases through video conferencing. This decision was taken on Tuesday, August 11, 2020.
The Subordinate Courts can adjourn those matters which can be heard pertinently through regular mode. Also, it was ordered that the courts shall not look into the non-urgent matters where the parties are unable to attend the court proceedings through video conferencing and can wait till the physical proceedings resume.
It has further been directed that subject to complete availability of public transport and situation control in Delhi, a plan has to be made for the gradual opening of Physical Courts from 1st September 2020 onwards.
It has been stated that to begin with, on an experimental basis, around one-fourth of the courts can resume physical functioning on a rotational basis while the rest can continue taking up matters through video conferencing.
The District and Sessions Judge, after consultation with the other District and Sessions Judges, will prepare an inclusive plan on the above lines and forward the same to this Court by 20.08.2020, which is on Thursday, for being placed before the “Committee for Preparation of Graded Action Plan” and thereafter before the Full Court for consideration.
It has been ordered that all the benches in the Delhi High Court shall make an attempt to take up to 20 oldest and important cases pending on their respective boards through video conferencing mode. However, evidence shall be recorded only in ex-parte and uncontested matters where the same is required to be tendered by way of affidavit.
