On Friday the Delhi High Court said that they have initiated steps to implement a mode wherein hearing can be done by virtual as well as physical mode. The Delhi High Court is aiming to implement the Hybrid mode. It stated that when the particular bench is conducting a virtual hearing the lawyer may opt for this mode after giving prior intimation about the same.
This is a modification of the notice issued on January 14 to start a physical hearing in courts. While the Delhi High Court decided to increase the number of judges to physically hear cases.
The order on Friday said that the court has planned steps for a hybrid model wherein one party can attend the case virtually and the other party will be physically present at the court.
Until the steps are put in place and implemented, the Hon’ble Chief Justice directed the court to work in a particular manner. Matters will be taken up by the physical move itself according to the list of Hon’ble judges. If in case any party wants to attend the hearing virtually they can do so by providing prior intimation regarding the same.
In the Delhi High Court’s Chief Justice D N Patel’s Courtroom, steps for setting up the infrastructure for virtual type hearing have already been initiated. For advocates who have problems physically appearing in the court TV screens have been set up for them to join virtually.
From January 18th, 11 benches that are 2 division benches consisting of 2 judges each and 9 individual benches have been conducting physical proceedings and the rest are hearing matters through video conferencing.
The High Court said that the decision to increase the number of benches was made because there was a decrease in the intensity and spread of Covid 19. It had also directed the bench to hold matters alternatively from January 18.
Later, a lot of petitions had been filed against the physical hearing of cases in the Delhi High Court as they were compelling the advocates to risk their lives and their family’s life to appear in court. This concern was mainly brought up by the Women advocates. As a result, Delhi High Court has now decided to hold it in hybrid mode thus, providing an option to the advocates whether they want to be physically present in the court or connect virtually.
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