Rains impede court functioning in north India; Himachal Pradesh High Court closed, NCLT Delhi cancels physical hearings

Heavy downpour has forced courts and tribunals in north India to either suspend physical functioning or assure lawyers that no adverse orders would be passed if they are unable to appear due to waterlogging..Due to the significant inconvenience experienced by litigants, advocates, and court staff as a result of the intense rainfall in the State, the Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday made the decision to suspend its functioning..In addition, the High Court also issued a directive for all district courts throughout the State to remain shut for the day as well.Himachal Pradesh has been witnessing the destructive impact of landslides and flash floods, causing severe damage to residential properties and disrupting daily life over the past two days. As a result, the High Court has decided to keep all the courts in State..The capital city of India, New Delhi has also been witnessing heavy rains over the last few days.The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Delhi today issued a direction restricting physical hearings and intimated that all cases will be heard via virtual mode after its building was water-logged due to heavy rains."In view of the torrential rains, NCLT Building is water logged and is being inspected by CPWD for Civil and Electric faults. Members of Bar and litigants are requested not to come for physical hearing. No adverse order be passed. The Benches shall attend the matters through Virtual Hearing mode. This issues with the approval of Hon'ble President, NCLT," read the notice..Anupam Lahiri, Secretary of NCLT, also wrote to the Electrical Executive Engineer of Central Public Works Department (CPWD) informing that the electrical panel room which houses 11000 KV supply line to Block 3 and Block 4 was completely submerged in water. The communication said that due to this, proceedings would remain suspended until further orders.Accordingly, the NCLT requested the CPWD to provide a "Safe to use" certificate pertaining to both electrical and civil side, at the earliest..The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) also intimated that no adverse orders would be passed if a litigant or counsel was unable to appear before the tribunal due to the rains."Please take notice that today due to waterlogging and alert of heavy rains no adverse orders be passed in event an advocate of a party is unable to appear," stated the notice..Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) also issued a similar notice to its members, informing them that no adverse orders would be passed by the Court on Monday if lawyers are unable to present themselves in Court on account of the rains. The notice also informed that some Courts were shifted to other courtrooms because of the leakage and seepage in the Delhi High Court.The Supreme Court also assured lawyers that no adverse orders would be passed if they are not present in Court on July 10 due to the rains.