'We Do Not See Any Reason For Further Extension': Calcutta High Court Decides Not To Extend Life Of Interim Orders Beyond March 31
A Full Bench of the Calcutta High Court has decided that it will not extend the life of interim orders, that were earlier extended in view of the lockdown induced by Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, the extensions granted will expire on March 31, 2021. The Bench comprising of Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justices Rajesh Bindal, IP Mukerji, Harish Tandon and Subrata...
A Full Bench of the Calcutta High Court has decided that it will not extend the life of interim orders, that were earlier extended in view of the lockdown induced by Covid-19 pandemic. Thus, the extensions granted will expire on March 31, 2021.
The Bench comprising of Chief Justice Thottathil B. Radhakrishnan and Justices Rajesh Bindal, IP Mukerji, Harish Tandon and Subrata Talukdar therefore closed the suo moto PIL registered by the Court in March 2020.
The order stated,
"We do not see any reason to extend the original order any further beyond March 31st, 2021, except as regards the matters which we specifically order hereinbelow."
These exceptions are as follows:
- Conditional orders of Courts including relating to occupation of any premises subject to payment of rent or occupational charges will continue, notwithstanding the non-deposit of the rent or occupation charges during the period 15th March, 2020 till 20th April, 2021.
- Rent or occupation charges not deposited in terms of the rent control legislations will not immediately make the tenant or occupant liable for eviction till 20th April, 2021 or earlier orders of Court.
This order is also applicable to orders pertaining to Original Side of the Court, the Bench said.
Background
By way of this suo moto PIL, the Full bench had granted several extensions of interim orders, as the judicial functioning was disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The first such extension was made until April 30, 2020, vide order dated March 24, 2020. Subsequently, the extension orders were extended on various occasions, viz. orders dated April 23, 2020, June 24, 2020, August 7 and November 24, 2020. The last such order was passed on February 23, for extension till March 31, 2021.
On Friday, the Full said that there is no need to further extend the original.
Read Order