**Executive Summary**
This Delhi Gazette notification, dated January 19, 2026, amends Part C of Chapter 16 of Volume IV of the Delhi High Court Rules & Orders. The amendment clarifies the definition of "parties" in criminal cases to include the complainant and/or victim as defined under Section 2(y) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. The amendment takes effect upon publication in the Gazette.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Amendment Details:**
* An explanation is added immediately after existing Rule 2 of Part C of Chapter 16 of Volume IV of the Delhi High Court Rules & Orders.
* The explanation clarifies that in criminal cases, the term "parties" includes the complainant and/or victim.
* The definition of complainant and/or victim is according to Section 2(y) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (Section 2(wa) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973).
* **Effective Date:**
* The amendment comes into force from the date of its publication in the Gazette.
**Impact Analysis**
**Delhi High Court:**
* **Impact:** Must apply the clarified definition of "parties" in criminal cases.
* **Action Required:** Update internal processes and procedures to reflect the new explanation.
**Complainants/Victims in Criminal Cases:**
* **Impact:** Formally recognized as parties in criminal cases as defined by the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.
* **Action Required:** Be aware of their inclusion as parties and their associated rights and responsibilities.
**Legal Professionals (Lawyers, Judges, etc.):**
* **Impact:** Need to understand and apply the amended definition of "parties" in relevant cases.
* **Action Required:** Update legal knowledge to align with the amendment.
**Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi:**
* **Impact:** Ensure alignment of policies and regulations with the amended definition.
* **Action Required:** Take note of changes in Rules & Orders of Delhi High Court and ensure the smooth transition of rules across the state.
Key Entities Referenced
Delhi High Court Rules & Orders: Rules and orders governing the procedures of the Delhi High Court, being amended by this notification.
Delhi High Court Act, 1966: The act that confers the power to make rules for the Delhi High Court, specifically Section 7.
Article 227 of the Constitution of India: Article granting the Delhi High Court power of superintendence over all courts and tribunals throughout the territories in relation to which it exercises jurisdiction.
Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023: Replaces the Code of Criminal Procedure; Section 2(y) defines complainant or victim.
Delhi: The jurisdiction to which these rules and amendment apply.
रजिस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33002/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33002/99
भारत सर कार
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
एस.जी.-डी.एलx .-x अxG .I -D 1H 9x 0x 1x
2 026-269431
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SG-DL-E-19012026-269431
असाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 02] दिल्ली, सोमवार, िनवरी 19, 2026/पौष 29, 1947 [रा.रा.रा.क्षे.दि. स.ं 416
No. 02] DELHI, MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2026/PAUSHA 29, 1947 [N. C. T. D. No. 416
भाग II—I
PART II—I
राष्ट्रीय रािधानी राज्य क्षत्रे दिल्ली सरकार
GOVERNMENT OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL TERRITORY OF DELHI
दिल्ली उच्च न्यायालय : नई दिल्ली
अजधसचू ना
दिल् ली, 19 िनवरी, 2026
स.ं 2/जनयम/डी.एच.सी.— दिल्ली उच् च न्यायालय अजधजनयम, 1966 की धारा 7 सहपठित भारत के संजवधान के
अनुच्छेि-227 द्वारा प्रित्त िजियों तथा इस जनजमत्त इस े सक्षम बनान े वाली अन्य सभी िजियों का प्रयोग करत े हुए,
दिल्ली उच् च न्यायालय, राष्ट्रीय रािधानी क्षेत्र दिल्ली सरकार के माननीय उपराज्यपाल के पूवव अनुमोिन के साथ,
दिल्ली उच् च न्यायालय जनयम व आिेि के खडं -IV के अध्याय-16 के भाग-सी में एतद्द्वारा जनम्नजलजखत सिं ोधन करता ह ै:-
सिं ोधन
दिल्ली उच् च न्यायालय जनयम व आिेि के खडं -IV के अध्याय-16 के भाग-सी के जवद्यमान जनयम-2 के तुरंत पश्चात
जनम्नजलजखत स्ट्पष्टीकरण िोडा िाएगा :-
372 DG/2026 (1)2 DELHI GAZETTE : EXTRAORDINARY PART II—I]
“स्ट्पष्टीकरण : आपराजधक मामलों में, ‘पक्षकारगण’ िब्ि म ेंजिकायतकत्ताव एवं/या पीजडत, िैसा दक भारतीय नागठरक
सुरक्षा संजहता, 2023 की धारा-2 (वाई) (िडं प्रदिया संजहता,1973 की धारा-2 (डब्ल्यूए)) के अतंगतव पठरभाजषत ह,ै को
सजममजलत माना िाएगा”
नोट: यह संिोधन रािपत्र में इसके प्रकािन की जतजथ से लाग ूहोगा।
न्यायालय के आिेिानुसार,
अरुण भारद्वाि, महाजनबंधक
HIGH COURT OF DELHI: NEW DELHI
NOTIFICATION
Delhi, the 19th January, 2026
No. 2/Rules/DHC.— 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 and all other powers enabling it in this behalf, the High Court of
Delhi, with the prior approval of the Lt. Governor of the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, hereby
makes the following amendment in Part C of Chapter 16 of Volume IV of the Delhi High Court Rules & Orders :-
AMENDMENT
THE FOLLOWING EXPLANATION SHALL BE INSERTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE
EXISTING RULE 2 OF PART C OF CHAPTER 16 OF VOLUME IV OF THE DELHI HIGH
COURT RULES & ORDERS :-
“Explanation : 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).”
NOTE: THIS AMENDMENT SHALL COME INTO FORCE FROM THE DATE OF ITS
PUBLICATION IN THE GAZETTE. By Order,
BY ORDER OF THE COURT,
ARUN BHARDWAJ, Registrar General
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.