Delhi High Court: New Virtual Hearing Rules 2025 Address Conduct Issues

• Virtual hearings became routine in India during the COVID-19 pandemic, offering flexibility for advocates and greater access for litigants.
• Instances of unprofessional conduct during these virtual proceedings prompted new regulations from the Delhi High Court.
• The Supreme Court authorized High Courts to adopt video conferencing via an April 6, 2020, order under Article 142.
• The Delhi High Court notified the Electronic Evidence and Video Conferencing Rules, 2025, on July 4, 2025, repealing its 2021 rules.
• These new rules, published on July 7, 2025, consolidate provisions and set standards for conduct in virtual court.

Lawyers practicing in Delhi or appearing before the Delhi High Court must familiarize themselves with the new Electronic Evidence and Video Conferencing Rules, 2025, to ensure compliance with updated decorum and protocol requirements during virtual proceedings and avoid potential sanctions for unprofessional conduct.

The Indian judicial system has increasingly embraced virtual hearings, a practice that became particularly routine during the global COVID-19 pandemic. This shift has brought significant advantages, offering advocates unprecedented freedom and flexibility to appear in various courts across different jurisdictions, thereby enabling them to expand their legal practice without the traditional constraints of extensive travel. Concurrently, litigants have benefited from enhanced access to justice, gaining the ability to virtually log in and observe proceedings, which provides them with firsthand knowledge of developments in their cases.

However, despite these clear benefits, the widespread adoption of virtual proceedings has also highlighted a concerning trend: numerous instances of unprofessional conduct by both legal counsels and litigants. These lapses in decorum during virtual hearings have not only disrupted court proceedings but have also garnered national attention, underscoring a critical need for clearer guidelines and stricter adherence to professional standards. In response to these challenges, the Delhi High Court has taken a decisive step to formalize expectations for online judicial engagement.

The foundation for virtual judicial proceedings in India was laid by the Supreme Court, which, invoking its powers under Article 142, authorized High Courts to adopt video conferencing technologies. This directive was issued through an order dated April 6, 2020, in the matter titled In Re: Guidelines for Court Functioning through Video Conferencing during COVID-19 Pandemic, Suo Moto Writ (Civil) No. 5/2020. Following this authorization, the Delhi High Court initially framed its own Video Conferencing Rules in 2021 to govern these new modes of operation.

These earlier rules, however, have since been superseded. The Delhi High Court officially notified the comprehensive Electronic Evidence and Video Conferencing Rules, 2025, which are now the definitive framework for virtual proceedings. This significant update was formalized via Notification No. 36/Rules/DHC, issued on July 4, 2025, and subsequently published in the Delhi Gazette Extraordinary on July 7, 2025. These new regulations are designed to consolidate existing provisions and provide a robust structure for the conduct of virtual hearings.

The introduction of the Electronic Evidence and Video Conferencing Rules, 2025, by the Delhi High Court marks a pivotal moment for legal professionals operating within its jurisdiction. Lawyers practicing in Delhi or appearing before the Delhi High Court must familiarize themselves with these new rules to ensure compliance with updated decorum and protocol requirements during virtual proceedings and avoid potential sanctions for unprofessional conduct. These rules are not merely procedural; they establish clear expectations for advocate conduct in virtual hearings in India, aiming to uphold the dignity and efficiency of the judicial process.

Adherence to the Delhi High Court virtual proceedings protocol is now paramount. The guidelines embedded within the Electronic Evidence and Video Conferencing Rules, 2025, address various aspects of virtual court decorum, seeking to mitigate the issues of unprofessional behavior observed previously. By providing a consolidated and updated framework, the Delhi High Court aims to ensure that the benefits of virtual justice are realized without compromising the integrity or solemnity of court proceedings, thereby setting a new standard for digital legal engagement.

Lawyers practicing in Delhi or appearing before the Delhi High Court must familiarize themselves with the new Electronic Evidence and Video Conferencing Rules, 2025, to ensure compliance with updated decorum and protocol requirements during virtual proceedings and avoid potential sanctions for unprofessional conduct.

Source: Original reporting via legal industry analysis