Kerala HC Extends Interim Orders Passed By It & Courts Subordinate To It Till June 30 [Read Order]

The order has been passed by a bench of Chief Justice S Manikumar, Justice CT Ravikumar and Justice Shaji P. Chaly in WP (C) 9400/2020, detailing its applicability on bail matters, anticipatory bail, etc.

The court has intimated that all interim order granted in respect of orders passed by Courts/ Tribunals upon which High Court exercises supervisory jurisdiction under Article 227, which are due to expire during the lock down period, are extended till June 30, 2020. However, any aggrieved party is at liberty to move for vacating such orders before the appropriate Courts/Tribunals, as the case may be.

Further, with regard to recovery proceedings under State Laws, the State Government, LSG Institutions, Government of India and Public Sector Undertakings owned and controlled by the State/Central Governments have been directed to not take coercive action against any individual until June 30, 2020.

However, liberty is given to the authorities stated supra to approach the High Court seeking necessary permission for initiating/proceeding with recovery proceedings.

In respect of anticipatory bail, arrest and bail, it is iterated that an accused should not be arrested unless the same is inevitable. However, in respect of cases relating to recovery of material objects used in the commission of offences and such cases, the State is at liberty to take appropriate decisions.

The court has also extended the period for filing of bail applications by the persons who had been released on interim bail, by seven days.

As per the order,

"Considering the rush in filing the bail applications of those persons released on interim bail, we deem it fit to extend the period to seven days and the prisoners to appear and file bail applications before the concerned jurisdictional courts within seven days from the end of the lock down period."

From today onwards, the Kerala HC has re-opened its court premises with full strength, for physical hearings. 

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