The Bombay High Court on Monday further extended the life of interim orders by another month, considering that the COVID-19 lockdown was still on and "complete access to justice is yet at a distance" (In re extension of Interim Orders).
The Court had first extended the life of interim orders on March 26, days after the first national COVID-19 lockdown was announced on March 24. It was later extended for a second time until June 15 on April 14.
Given the continuing lockdown situation in Maharashtra, the Court has now directed that the orders extending the life of interim orders will continue to be in operation until July 15, if not directed otherwise in the meanwhile.
The Court also clarified that stay orders or decrees passed by the court/ tribunal/ authority in eviction/dispossession and demolition matters will continue until July 15, unless directed otherwise.
The order was passed by the Full Bench comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justices AA Sayed, SS Shinde and KK Tated.
The Bench, however, added that its order will not have any application "in matters where interim orders have been passed, which are to be in operation until further orders of the relevant Courts or to orders, which have been modified/varied/vacated after April 15, 2020."
Further, liberty has been given to any party to apply for vacating an interim order by making an application before the appropriate Court.
