No adverse orders in non-urgent matters if advocate, litigant unable to join virtual hearing before lower courts: Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court had clarified that no adverse order shall be passed by its subordinate courts in non-urgent/routine matters where the advocate concerned or a litigant is unable to join proceedings through video conferencing mode. .A communication to this end was issued by the Registrar General, Delhi High Court to the District & Sessions Judge (HQs); District & Sessions Judge-cum-Special Judge (PC Act) CBI, Rouse Avenue Court Complex; all the District & Sessiosn Jduges and the Principal Judge (HQs), Family Court. .The communication states that no adverse order can be passed by its subordinate courts in non-urgent/routine matters due to non-appearance of a party/advocate till the normal functioning of the courts resumes..Vide its Office Order dated July 30, while suspending physical hearing till August 14, the Delhi High Court had allowed the subordinate courts to hear all the cases listed before them through videoconferencing. .[COVID-19] Physical functioning of Delhi HC, subordinate courts suspended till August 14; Subordinate courts to hear all cases.However, evidence was allowed to be recorded only in ex-parte and uncontested matters. .To facilitate virtual hearings, the High Court has now urged the subordinate courts to launch a 'special drive' in coordination with the office-bearers of respective Bar Associations to ensure that the email IDs and mobile numbers of advocates are duly fed in the Case Information System (CIS). .Even if one person gets COVID-19, it is not good: Chief Justice DN Patel, Delhi HC on re-starting physical hearing.Recently, the Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court had stated that the pandemic situation was being monitored by a Committee of the High Court and that the health of the members of the legal fraternity was a priority. .Read the Communication: