New Delhi, March 16 (IANS): The Delhi High Court on Monday barred production of under-trial prisoners in the districts courts till March 31 and limited its own functioning to only urgent matters.

If production of any such person was indispensable, the facility of video link be used, the HC said after a meeting that was chaired by the Chief Justice.

The urgent matters, to be listed on the following day, would be determined by the joint registrars, it said. The HC filing counter will remain open and limitation period shall continue to run as before.

The situation will be reviewed on March 20.

Earlier in the day, the court said it would issue directions in the matter that the photocopy shops in the court premises and the cash counters of court fees in the HC should accept digital payments as a precaution to prevent spread of coronavirus. The matter was raised by advocate and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay.

The Bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice C. Harishankar, after hearing the mentioning, said, "Don't worry! We will be issuing more directions."