A Bench headed by Chief Justice Nath had registered the suo motu PIL on March 13, following which 8 orders were passed in the matter. 4 orders were later passed by another Bench that heard the PIL in the Chief's absence.
Chief Justice of the Gujarat High Court Vikram Nath will resume hearing the suo motu PIL registered last March to monitor issues arising out the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown tomorrow.
Following the registration of the suo motu PIL on March 13, the Bench of Chief Justice Nath and Justice Ashutosh Shastri had passed a total of 8 interim orders between March 13 and May 1 (including 2 orders dismissing civil applications).
Thereafter Chief Justice Vikram Nath had to leave for his hometown, Prayagaraj, and another Bench started hearing this suo motu PIL.
The Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Ilesh J Vohra started hearing the matter on May 11.
Between May 11 and May 25, this Bench (of Justices Pardiwala and Vohra) passed 4 orders. The last order passed on May 25 dealt with a civil application concerning the conditions of the City Civil Hospital at Ahmedabad.
In its earlier order on May 22, this Bench had taken serious note of the grim state of affairs at the hospital, apart from issuing directions concerning the fee charged by private hospitals and the condition of migrant workers, among other issues.
The Bench of Justices Pardiwala and Vohra was assigned to hear the PIL in the Chief Justice's absence.
With the Chief Justice back in station, the PIL has now been re-assigned to be heard by a Bench headed by Chief Justice Nath.
However, while Chief Justice Nath was earlier sitting with Justice Ashutosh Shastri, it has now been intimated that the Chief Justice will sit tomorrow with Justice Pardiwala, who was part of the Bench hearing the PIL in his absence.
It may also be noted that PIL matters in Gujarat High Court are heard by a Bench headed by the Chief Justice.
