Delhi pollution crisis: Delhi High Court allows hybrid hearings for lawyers, litigants
Delhi High Court Bar Association president and senior advocate N Hariharan wrote to the high court chief justice saying that the Supreme Court on Sunday issued a notification for hybrid hearings due to high pollution.
2 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Dec 15, 2025 11:56 AM IST
Delhi pollution crisis: In the wake of deteriorating air quality in the national capital, Delhi High Court has allowed lawyers and litigants to appear before the court virtually.
Delhi pollution crisis news: After the Supreme Court Ā Sunday issued a circular allowing lawyers and litigants to virtually appear for court hearings in view of the prevailing weather condition marred by the rising pollution levels, the Delhi High Court Monday issued a similar directive.
The circular issued by high court’s Registrar General Arun Bhardwaj said, āIn view of the prevailing weather conditions, I have been directed to convey that if convenient, Members of the Bar/ Parties-in-Person may avail hybrid mode of appearance through video conferencing facility in their matters listed before the Hon’ble Courts.ā
Earlier, Delhi High Court Bar Association president and senior advocate N Hariharan wrote to the high court chief justice saying, āThe Supreme Court yesterday has in light of the grave implications of pollution encountered brought out a notification encouraging hybrid hearings. Please explore the possibility of issuing something similar.ā
On Sunday the apex court too, in an unprecedented move issued a circular advising lawyers as well as litigants to appear virtually, citing āprevailing weather conditionsā.Ā
The directive came a day after Delhiās air quality plunged into the āsevere plusā category triggering emergency measures across the National Capital Region (NCR).
āIn view of the prevailing weather conditions, the Honāble Chief Justice of India has advised, if convenient, the Members of the Bar/Parties-in-Person to avail hybrid mode of appearance through video conferencing facility in their matters listed before the Honāble Courts,ā the SC circular had stated.
At present, the SC has a video-conferencing facility for lawyers. This is the last week that Delhi courts including the trial, Delhi HC and the SC will function before the 10-day winter break.
Vineet Upadhyay is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, where he leads specialized coverage of the Indian judicial system.
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