As Covid-19 Situation In State Improves, Karnataka High Court Extends Interim Orders For Last Time Till Jan 31

A division bench led by Chief Justice Abhay Oka said "The last extension was made on 26^th November 2020. Thereafter, the situation in terms of the number of positive cases of COVID-19 in the State has considerably improved. Perhaps, except for permitting the entry of litigants to the Court complexes, normalcy in functioning of the Courts has also been considerably restored. Considering the trend of the positive cases of COVID-19 reported everyday in the State of Karnataka during the last one month, it will be appropriate if we extend the interim orders for the last time till the end of this month."

It added "If the present downward trend of the number of positive cases of COVID-19 reported everyday continues, there will not be any occasion for extending the interim order as well as the order of closure under Section 4 of the Limitation Act, 1963."

The court accordingly issued the following interim order.

(i) All interim orders passed by the Karnataka High Court, all the District Courts, Civil Courts, Family Courts, Labour Courts, Industrial Tribunals and all other Tribunals in the State over which this Court has power of superintendence, which are due to expire within a period of one month from today, will continue to operate for a period of one month from today. We, however, make it clear that those interim orders which are not of a limited duration and are to operate till further orders will remain unaffected.

(ii) If the Criminal Courts in the State have granted bail orders or anticipatory bail for a limited period which are likely to expire in one month from today, the said orders will stand extended for a period of one month from today.

(iii) If any orders of eviction, dispossession or demolition are already passed by the High Court, District or Civil Courts, the same shall remain in abeyance for a period of one month from today.

The bench noted that "Considering the fact that it will be practically impossible for the citizens to approach the Courts for redressal of their grievances for a period of twenty-one days specified in the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs dated 24th March 2020, we sincerely hope that the State Government, Municipal Authorities and the agencies and instrumentalities of the State Government will be slow in taking action of demolition and eviction of persons.