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Directive to decide cases ex-parte

Staff Reporter

Officers asked to sit in courts during court hours, says Registrar-General

NEW DELHI: Taking a tough stand against the Tis Hazari district courts' lawyers for abstaining from courts in protest against making the Rohini district courts in North-West Delhi operational, the Full Court of the Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the lower courts' judicial officers to decide cases ex-parte if lawyers engaged by the litigants fail to appear to argue the cases.

Addressing a press conference in his chamber in which the electronic media were allowed to bring in cameras for coverage, Registrar-General S.N. Aggarwal said the judicial officers of the lower courts had been asked to sit in their respective courts throughout the court hours and pass orders in cases listed before them whether clients' lawyers were present or not.

Mr. Aggarwal said the Full Court had adopted a resolution to this effect and copies had been sent to the District Judge and the judges in charge of the Patiala House, Karkardooma and Rohini district courts.

Where parties were willing, they would be heard personally and necessary orders would be passed in case no further evidence was required.

However, in matters fixed for evidence, the parties would be allowed to file documents and undertake examination/cross-examination of witnesses if they so desired, Mr. Aggarwal said.

In all matters, including suit, revision, review, appeal, bail and urgent applications, the judges would pass appropriate orders even in the absence of the lawyers, the resolution said.

Asking the judicial officers not to perform any judicial work in their chambers, the resolution said they must strictly adhere to court hours and perform the entire work on the dais and not accept any request to rise or stop judicial work at the request of lawyers or litigants.

High Court plea rjected

Mr. Aggarwal said the Full Court noted with concern that an appeal by the High Court to the striking lawyers to end the strike had failed to make any impact.

The Full Court also directed the Judges to file weekly reports to the High Court, and in case any lawyer or group of lawyers or litigants created indiscipline in the courts or tried to intimidate lawyers or judges or obstructed proceedings, the judicial officers should immediately inform the District Judge who would send for police force and restore the functioning of the courts and initiate criminal proceedings against such lawyers, the resolution stated.

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