On Monday (July 12, 2021), the Madras High Court clarified that due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, its previous order to extend the validity of the interim order will not continue beyond July 15, 2021. These orders were passed under the initiation of Suo Moto proceedings by the Court in Re: Extension of Return and Interim Orders.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy extended the validity of the interim order until July 15, 2021, by their previous order of June 29, 2021.
The bench stated that because of the improvement in the current situation, the restrictions imposed by the lockdown have been relaxed, and even the public transportation system has been reopened, there is no need to extend the period of the interim order beyond the specified date, i.e., July 15, 2021.
However, the court ordered that in this case suo Moto proceedings will continue so that in case there is a further increase in Covid-19 cases and lockdown, appropriate measures can be taken to protect the interests of litigants and other orders of the kind subsisting till July 15, 2021, can be issued within the necessary scope.
Earlier, the Madras High Court resolved to extend interim orders subsisting as of April 30, 2021, till July 15, 2021. Earlier, the validity of these orders was extended till June 30, 2021 (vide order dated May 17, 2021).
