Would rather get coronavirus than see families starve: Lawyers’ body as Covid-19 cases rise in Delhi

By LE Desk

New Delhi, April 7: With coronavirus cases rising once again in the national capital, the Coordination Committee of All Delhi District Court Bar Associations on Monday objected to rollback on physical hearings and said the “lawyers are willing to risk getting coronavirus rather than see families starve”.

This comes after the Delhi High Court asked for their opinion on whether to rollback physical hearings and return to hybrid/virtual hearing amid a surge in Covid-19 cases in Delhi.

On this, a meeting was held on Tuesday with the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court and other officials. At the meeting, the Coordination Committee of All Delhi District Court Bar Associations issued a letter saying that the court cannot stop the physical hearings, India Today reported.

In a detailed letter, the lawyers’ body raised objections on the rollback and said that last year’s lockdown created severe economic hardship for lawyers.

The letter reads, “Lawyers willing to risk getting coronavirus rather than see families starve”.

The committee also mentioned three incidents of suicide by lawyers in Delhi in the last 15 days, adding “immense financial difficulty” was the reason behind their deaths.

The lawyers’ body suggested that courts can split hearings between morning and evening to prevent crowding.

It has also argued that since malls, markets, cinema halls and restaurants remain open, stopping physical work in courts will not have any impact on the spread of the Covid-19.

To this, the Delhi High Court bar association also said that while they have no objection to hybrid hearings, there is no need to stop physical hearing.

Physical hearing of court cases resumed in Delhi on March 15 after Delhi reported a significant dip in coronavirus cases.

While the Delhi HC is allowing hybrid/virtual hearings if the lawyers are unwilling to come to the court premises, full physical hearings have resumed in the district and sessions courts.

https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/delhi/story/would-rather-get-coronavirus-than-see-families-starve-lawyers-body-as-covid-19-cases-rise-in-delhi-1787975-2021-04-07