Delhi High Court Mandates Quick Sanction of ₹387 Crore for Hybridisation of 691 District Courts
The Delhi High Court has instructed the Delhi government Chief Secretary to hasten the approval of ₹387 crore for the hybridisation of 691 district-level courts in the national capital.
A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela emphasized that the project must be prioritized. They dismissed the government’s claim that the financial sanction needed cabinet approval, stating that the amount was below the ₹500 crore threshold requiring such consent.
“Given that the expenditure for hybrid hearings is under ₹500 crore and the policy is already in place in the High Court of Delhi, Clause 9 of the Schedule [of Transaction of Business Rules] does not apply. Immediate action is necessary as technology rapidly becomes outdated,” the Court declared.
The Bench further directed the Chief Secretary to promptly advance the financial sanction for all 691 courts as per the preliminary estimate dated April 19, 2024, amounting to ₹387,03,19,388, with configurations approved by NIC. The project should be implemented without delay, including a comprehensive tender for all courts.
This directive came while addressing a plea regarding the digitisation of Delhi’s courts. On July 18, during the hearing, the Delhi government affirmed its commitment to providing the necessary infrastructure for hybrid hearings, especially considering new criminal laws.
The Court allowed the initial implementation of hybrid systems in two pilot courts per district court complex (seven in total) from the proposed 691 courts, with the Registrar General of the High Court determining which courts will participate in the pilot.
The next hearing is scheduled for September 30.
