Delhi court virtual proceedings will be used at the Patiala House and Rouse Avenue court complexes on October 10, after the Delhi High Court issued directions in view of a protest at Jantar Mantar and expected security restrictions in central Delhi. All seven district court complexes in the capital will remain functional on Saturday, but proceedings at the two affected complexes will be conducted online.
The directions cover all civil and criminal matters listed before Patiala House and Rouse Avenue courts. Judicial officers posted at these complexes who are unable to reach the court premises may also conduct hearings virtually, according to the order reported by the Times of India.
The High Court has also instructed all district courts in Delhi not to pass adverse orders solely because litigants, advocates, witnesses or accused persons are unable to appear. Matters requiring urgent consideration may instead be adjourned to a short date. The direction is intended to prevent security-related access restrictions from resulting in procedural disadvantage for people involved in court cases.
Undertrial prisoners across Delhi’s district courts will also be produced through virtual mode on Saturday. The arrangement means that physical movement of prisoners to the district court complexes will not be required for the day, while hearings involving them can continue online.
The order affects court users beyond the two complexes because the non-appearance protection applies to all district courts in Delhi. The direction covers parties and legal representatives who may face difficulties reaching court premises because of restrictions or disruption in central Delhi. It also includes witnesses and accused persons listed for hearings on October 10.
In a separate decision, the National Lok Adalat scheduled for October 10 has been postponed to October 25. The Lok Adalat was to be held across all seven district court complexes: Tis Hazari, Karkardooma, Patiala House, Rohini, Saket, Dwarka and Rouse Avenue.
The postponement changes the schedule for cases that were expected to be taken up through the settlement-focused forum. The revised date announced in the order is October 25, although the supplied report does not provide further details on the cases affected or any separate instructions for participants.
The arrangements show how security restrictions around a public gathering can alter the functioning of the capital’s judicial network without closing the district courts entirely. While the seven complexes are to remain operational, the High Court has shifted hearings at two locations online and protected parties from adverse consequences linked to physical non-appearance. The virtual proceedings and prisoner-production arrangements are scheduled for October 10, while the National Lok Adalat will take place on October 25.
