"Why are you not in Court?" Justice Subramonium Prasad asks lawyers who failed to appear physically

As the Delhi High Court prepares to resume physical hearings from November 22, advocates appearing via video conference mode on Thursday were repeatedly reminded to start appearing in person..Justice Subramonium Prasad asked multiple young lawyers why they were absent on a physical hearing day.To a lawyer appearing for the State who attended a hearing virtually, the Court asked,"Why aren't you in Court? I understand if you are old or suffering from comorbidities, but you're the State's counsel. You should be here.".When a young counsel appearing virtually complained that court proceedings were inaudible to him, the Court asked,"And what prevents you from coming to the Court, young man?" Another counsel apologised for not being able to appear physically. To this, the Court, in a lighter vein said,"Is our canteen not good enough? I have heard the samosas here are pretty great.".After a year-and-a-half, the Delhi High Court and all district courts are set to fully resume physical hearings from November 22, 2021..On October 29, 2021, a public notice was issued by the Registrar General of Delhi High Court stating that the Full Court of the High Court had decided that the existing mechanism of limited physical hearings would continue in the High Court till November 18 and in district courts till November 20. The notice stated that from November 22, physical hearings are to make a comeback. As per the public notice, courts will also allow hybrid hearings or hearings through video conferencing, but only on the request of the parties or their counsel..With a significant drop in COVID-19 cases, getting back to the familiar physical system of hearing could instil confidence in young lawyers, many of whom have faced great difficulties during the pandemic.Delhi lawyers welcomed the move to revert to physical hearings, while also suggesting that the robust system of virtual hearings set up during the pandemic should not go to waste..Physical hearings set to make a comeback: What Delhi lawyers have to say on the move.[Read SOP]