[Breaking] Delhi HC Extends Operation Of Subsisting Interim Orders Till Aug 31 Amid COVID-19 Situation

In light of the continuing pandemic in Delhi, the Delhi High Court has extended the operation of all the subsisting interim orders till August 31.

While taking the suo moto cognizance of the issues, the Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel, Justice Siddharth Mridul and Justice Talwant Singh have ordered that all such interim orders shall stand automatically extended till 31/08/20 or until further orders, except where any orders to the contrary have been passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India in any particular matter, during the intervening period.

Taking the suo moto cognizance while exercising its extraordinary jurisdiction under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution, the court has passed the said direction for the interim orders passed by itself as well as by the subordinate courts.

'Needless to clarify that in case, the aforesaid extension of interim order causes any hardship of an extreme nature to a party to such proceeding, they would be at liberty to seek appropriate relief, as may be advised', the Bench noted.

During the course of the hearing, Chief Justice DN Patel highlighted that 4-5 employees of the High Court have tested positive for COVID19, however, all of them are asymptomatic.

The Health Department of the Delhi Government has set up a 3 days camp for Rapid Antigen Testing for the officers and the officials of the Delhi High Court.

The court further noted that there's a need to address the issue of the released prisoners returning to prison as possible carriers of the virus.

The court said:

'The idea is to ensure that the released prisoners do not return to prison as asymptomatic patients of COVID19, especially when the prisons are overcrowded.'

The court has also directed for the said order to be uploaded on the website of this Court and be conveyed to all the Standing Counsel, UOI, GNCTD, DDA, Civic Authorities, Delhi High Court Bar Association, all the other Bar Associations of Delhi, as well as to all District Courts subordinate to this court.