Delhi HC Extends The Operation of Subsisting Interim Orders Till Oct 31 In Light of Continuing Pandemic

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 31/10/20 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.

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.