[LOCKDOWN] Delhi HC adjourns hearing after advocate for bail applicant is denied permission to cross Delhi-Haryana border

The Delhi High Court yesterday adjourned hearing in a bail plea after it was informed that the advocate for the bail applicant would not be able to reach the Court premises as he was denied permission to enter Delhi at the Delhi-Haryana border. (Mohd Asif vs State).Amid the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 and restricted functioning of courts in the city, a single Judge Bench of Justice Mukta Gupta was scheduled to hear the petition by one Mohd Asif. .The Petitioner had sought interim bail for a period of one month on the ground that his mother was ill and had to undergo Cataract surgery on a date that was yet to be fixed. .While the hearing was supposed to take place through the video conferencing mode, the Advocate for the Petitioner had opted for availing the V-C facility being offered in the High Court premises on the ground that he did not have Wi-fi facility at home..When the matter was taken by the Court, a telephonic request was made by the Counsel for the Petitioner to adjourn the hearing. .The Court recorded, .A telephonic request has been made by the learned counsel for the petitioner for adjourning the hearing on the ground that he could not come to the High Court premises for availing the facility of Video-Conferencing as being not permitted at Delhi Haryana border to enter Delhi..Delhi High Court.At the request of the Petitioner's counsel, the hearing in the interim bail plea was adjourned till May 8..Yesterday, the Delhi High Court Bar Associaton had also written to the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice DN Patel on the issue of movement of advocates who are residing in areas outsode teh Delhi borders, such as Gurugram, Noida etc. .The Bar Association has prayed for issuance of necessary directions to authorities to allow advocates living in areas outside the city to cross Delhi border..Allow advocates living in Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurugram to cross Delhi border: DHCBA requests Delhi High Court Chief Justice.In its letter addressed to the Chief Justice, DHCBA had brought to the Court's attention that a large number of advocates practicing in Delhi resided in areas outside the city borders in Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Faridabad etc..Last month, the Delhi Bar Association had also urged the Delhi Chief Minister and the Commissioner of Police, Delhi to permit advocates to commute from their residence to office/chambers on verification of their identity cards during the lockdown. .Permit advocates to commute from their residence to chambers: Delhi Bar Association President writes to CM, Police Commissioner.Read the Order: