HC insists on virtual hearings at district courts, tribunals

One-liner: The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed all district courts and tribunals in Delhi to keep virtual hearing weblinks open from 10 am every working day to help lawyers and litigants for appearing virtually for their cases.

Driving the news: The HC said it expects all the judicial officers of the subordinate courts to follow its orders to hold virtual or hybrid hearings in letter and spirit in view of the Covid pandemic.

• The bench took exception to the explanation offered by a judicial officer of a trial court for not considering the request made by a lawyer to permit hybrid and video-conferencing hearing facilities, despite HC's directions

Bench direction: The bench asked the judicial officer to join the virtual hearing and asked why her court's weblink was not open on that particular day.

• The court further said if any advocate or litigant faces an issue in logging through the weblink for virtual hearing, he or she can give a complaint to the concerned District and Sessions Judge or presiding officer of the tribunal

Looking forward: The court was also informed by Delhi govt, represented by its additional standing counsel, that necessary infrastructure has been put in place and consumer forums will start virtual proceedings from Feb 1.

Source: PTI