Coronavirus Lockdown: Bombay HC extends interim orders until April 30, stays eviction, demolition and dispossession orders [Read Order]

The Bombay High Court on Thursday passed an order extending the life of all interim orders passed by courts in the State until April 30, in view of the pan-India lockdown prompted by the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)..As stated in the order passed today, ."... all interim orders passed by this High Court at Mumbai, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Panaji as also all courts/ Tribunal and authorities subordinate over which it has power of superintendence expiring before 30.04.2020, shall continue to operate till then. It is clarifed that such interim orders which are not granted for limited duration and therefore, are to operate till further orders, shall remain unaffected by this order."Bombay High Court.The Bench of Chief Justice BP Dharmadhikari and Justices AA Sayed, SS Shinde and KK Tated has directed as follows: All interim orders which are operating till today and are not already continued by some other courts / authority including this court and the same shall remain in force till April 30.However, parties are at liberty to move for vacation of interim orders only in extreme urgent cases.Orders or decree for eviction, dispossession, demolition already passed by any court/Tribunal/Authority shall also remain in abeyance till April 30..Further, the State Government has been urged to refrain from carrying out any coercive proceedings against people during this time. The Court said,."... we hope that Government as also municipal authorities and other agencies or instrumentalities shall also be slow in taking any coercive steps so as to drive the citizen to court of law in the meantime."Bombay High Court.The Court also acknowledged the receipt of a letter written to the Court requesting that an accessible justice system be set up, particularly for poor and marginalized, during the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic..However, in response the Bench observed that for now there are sufficient mechanisms in place to ensure that urgent matters are being heard without insistence on following through the usual technicalities. In this regard, the Bench recorded the following submissions made by the Court Registry:Matters are being entertained even if presented directly in court without affidavit or court fee.No procedural issues / objections are being raised.Facility of e-fling is already available and hearing through video conferencing can also be availed, as that arrangement has already been made since last about one week.Urgent matters on request are being attended to and parties can make request for urgent hearing through emails or other modes.Two courts are already notified for hearing of such matters, the dates of sitting are also notified.In extreme urgent matters, even at eleventh hour, parties can move court for appropriate interim order..[Read the Order]