Over 500 officials and staff members who have been involved in running the Delhi High Court, will now be treated as frontline warriors. These employees have been coming to the HC every day, even though all the judges and lawyers have been working from home amidst the raging second wave of the pandemic.
Their physical presence at the HC is required for scanning documents, ensuring that virtual hearings are carried out without any disruptions or technical snags, uploading court orders and issuing digital copies, and so on.
On May 15, it was decided that the HC will take care of the medical expenses and rehabilitation of these employees who were coming to work, if they happen to get infected. In fact, Justice Siddharth Mridul insisted that if the HC was to continue functioning regularly till June first week, these officials and employees will first have to be treated as frontline workers and assured of all support in case of an emergency. This move is expected to motivate them and put their fears to rest.
Considering the rise in the number of cases and the number of judges and other court employees who have been affected by the second wave, the summer vacations for the district judiciary are beginning earlier this year, starting in May itself, instead of June. However, the HC will close for vacation in June first week only, as per the original schedule.
