Delhi High Court Orders Swift Approval of Rs 387 Crore for Hybrid Hearing Infrastructure in 691 Courts
The Delhi High Court has directed the city’s chief secretary to expedite the approval of Rs 387 crore for the implementation of hybrid hearings across 691 subordinate courts in Delhi. This directive, issued by a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet PS Arora, emphasizes the need to prioritize the project and float a comprehensive tender for all courts.
In response to a petition regarding the infrastructure for hybrid hearings in district courts, the court clarified that the financial sanction should be granted promptly as per the preliminary estimate dated April 19, 2024. The bench stressed the importance of initiating a comprehensive tender process for all 691 courts, including pilot courts.
The court has also approved a revised approach, allowing the Delhi government to set up two pilot courts per court complex instead of two per district. This adjustment aims to assess the performance of the pilot courts before rolling out the project more broadly.
The Delhi government’s Department of Law’s latest status report revealed that the project involves policy decisions requiring approval from the Council of Ministers. However, the court noted that since the expenditure is below Rs 500 crore and hybrid hearings have already been implemented in the Delhi High Court, the mandatory cabinet approval under Clause 9 of the Schedule (of the Transaction of Business Rules) is not necessary. The court emphasized the need for swift action due to the rapid obsolescence of technology.
The order follows a petition filed by lawyer Anil Kumar Hajelay in 2021, which sought the introduction of hybrid hearings in district courts amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The court has scheduled further hearings on the matter for September 30, reiterating the importance of addressing citizens’ right to justice, which has been significantly impacted by the pandemic.
(With inputs from agency)
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