Sreya Kanugula
The Delhi High Court had initiated the QR code-based virtual entry pass system for advocates entering the premises of the courtroom and those who are attending hearings physically from the 25th of January, 2021.
It was elaborated in an office order that the HC “informed to all concerned that, in addition to the present system of entry into the Court Blocks, Delhi High Court, QR code-based digital entry pass system is also going to be made operational, on an experimental basis, with effect from January 25.”
Various ‘standards of procedures’ on this new entry pass had been issued by the Court, among which the clarification was made that the generation and issue of the pass will be done so a day in advance by the registry of the HC with regards to the cases listed before the benches that were holding hearings physically.
It was also clarified that the pass shall be received by all lawyers and parties concerned who have had their cell numbers as well as their email IDs registered with the court’s ‘case information system.’
“The QR pass shall be sent as an attachment (PDF file) through email and SMS. The concerned advocate and party-in-person shall be required to download the attached digital entry pass (PDF file) on her or his Mobile/Laptop/Tablet/iPad from the email or SMS link, and show such downloaded QR Pass to the security personnel at the Entry Gate(s) of respective court building(s) while entering and while making exit,” stated the official order given.
It was further stated by the court that the deployed security at the gates of entry and exit shall make use of the QR code reader to retrieve details on which the advocate and any other party were visiting in-person.
“Such QR Pass would be non-transferrable. However, in case the concerned advocate is not in a position to attend the court proceedings and wants some other advocate to represent her or him before the court, then she or he shall issue necessary authorization in writing,” the order continued to state.
The court also said if the advocate wished to provide such authorisation, they would be required to provide a printout of the issued QR pass with their ID’s copy to the advocate who was authorised, to be shown at their entry time.
“Such authorized advocate shall be permitted entry after due verification. The written authorization shall be retained for the record at the time of entry,” the court also stated.