Coronavirus: Senior Advocate Dinesh Goswami writes to CJI SA Bobde, calls for suspension of summer vacation and extension of lockdown

In a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, Senior Advocate Dinesh Goswami has urged for the ongoing lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic to be extended and for the Court's summer vacation to be suspended..The nation-wide lockdown was imposed starting March 25. In his letter, Goswami says that this was a much appreciated step and was in fact also commended by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, he goes on to note that on account of some instances, the number of COVID-19 positive patients has risen drastically in India despite the lockdown..In light of these developments and given that social distancing is mandated to prevent spread of the contagion, Goswami says it would not be prudent for the Courts to resume their normal functioning..The manner in which the cases are increasing in almost all the potential cities of the country it is neither advisable nor prudent to start the normal working of either that of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India, The Hon’ble High Courts or the learned Sub-ordinate Courts of India, as because of all the courts remaining closed / non functioning / partially functioning have left the courts emburdened with heavy load of work in the work flow.Sr. Advocate Dinesh Goswami.Goswami adds that owing to the prevalent conditions in the country, the lockdown ought not be lifted before April 30. Therefore, he has urged the CJI to consider extending the lockdown for Courts. He says it would not be prudent to open Courts, educational institutions, markets, flights and such ahead of this date, given the cititical condition in the country..He has appealed that the CJI not only extend the lockdown at least till April 30 but also to consider suspending the summer vacation for the educational institutions and Courts to make up for the lost time amid this lockdown, given the unprecedented circumstances. He writes,."It is therefore, in terms of the above situation my humble request from the Hon’ble, The Chief Justice of India, head of the judiciary is that the lockdown maybe extended at least up to 30.04.2020 and it is also urged that the summer vacations of the Educational Institutions and all the Courts all over the country including the Hon’ble ,the Supreme Court of India may be suspended considering the present emergent epidemic situation.".Read the Letter: