The Gauhati High Court on Friday directed the vacation of all interim orders passed by subordinate courts and tribunals, which were earlier extended by the High Court on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.

To this end, the High Court has vacated an interim order passed by it on May 10, 2021, observing that the COVID-19 situation in the area had improved.

“Having heard the learned Advocate Generals and considering that the situation in Assam has improved as regarding COVID-19 pandemic, we are of the view that the interim order passed by us on 10.05.2021 needs to be vacated for all the subordinate Courts, Tribunals etc, for which it was operating”, said a three Judge Bench headed by the Chief Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia.

The order was passed following submissions by the Advocates General of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram as well as a Government Advocate representing Nagaland, the Assistant Solicitor General of India and a counsel representing the Gauhati High Court Bar Association.

The Bench directed that the May 2021 order would stand vacated on August 31. Consequently, interim orders of subordinate courts and tribunals that were earlier extended by the High Court would stand vacated on August 31.

It was also noted that as far the Gauhati High Court's principal Bench was concerned, the interim orders were earlier directed to be vacated effective from August 23.

The Court further granted leave to litigants to move applications until August 31 should they wish for an extension of the stay orders.

The matter has been listed before the Court for further hearing on September 1.