Delhi High Court Amends Rules To Include Complainant, Victim As 'Parties' In Criminal Cases

The Delhi High Court has amended its Rules to clarify that in criminal cases, the term “parties” shall be deemed to include the complainant or the victim.

A notification to the said effect has been published in the Delhi Gazette on January 19, amending Part C of Chapter 16 of Volume IV of the Delhi High Court Rules & Orders.

“In criminal cases, the term 'parties' shall be deemed to include the complainant and /or victim as defined under Section 2 (y) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Section 2 (wa) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973),” the notification reads.

The amendment has been done by the Delhi High Court in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 7 of the Delhi High Court Act, 1966, read with Article 227 of the Constitution of India.

The new amendment has been done with the prior approval of the Lt. Governor of Delhi, Vinai Kumar Saxena.

“THIS AMENDMENT SHALL COME INTO FORCE FROM THE DATE OF ITS PUBLICATION IN THE GAZETTE,” the notification states.

Click here to read notification