[COVID-19] Bombay High Court extends life of interim orders till August 31, 2021; no further extension

The Bombay High Court on Tuesday extended the life of interim orders passed by the High Court as well as subordinate courts and tribunals in Maharashtra and Goa till August 31, 2021 (Court on its own motion - Suo-Motu PIL 1 of 2021)..The Full Bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justices AA Sayed, SS Shinde and PB Varale passed the order today in a suo motu petition initiated on the extension of protection to those who are unable to access justice because of the restricted functioning of the courts due to COVID-19 pandemic..It directed that orders pertaining to eviction, demolition or dispossession passed by any lower courts or authorities after April 9 will be kept in abeyance one last time as per the conditions of its previous order of April 16, 2021..The Bench observed that interim orders were stayed earlier keeping in mind the crisis created by the pandemic when the citizens could not approach courts and tribunals for relief.However, now "since the crisis is on the wane leading to the easing of lockdown restrictions as well as lifting of COVID appropriate behaviour protocol, coupled with the fact that courts have started functioning physically as in pre-pandemic days", the Court opined that the interim protection need not be extended. "The situation which required interference of Court through protective interim orders is no longer required," the order stated..However, since the public at large is under the belief that they are protected by these orders, the Bench clarified that they have extended the protection till August 31 and not beyond that time period. "So whoever has been enjoying protection so far will get 2 weeks time to approach Courts," CJ Datta stated. .Recently, a decision was taken at a meeting of the administrative committee held on July 29, 2021, to commence partial physical hearing at the Principal Bench, and complete physical hearing at the co-ordinate benches at Nagpur and Aurangabad. Goa still continues to hear matters virtually..Bombay High Court decides to commence partial physical hearing from August 2.The Full Bench had previously directed that interim orders passed by itself as well as subordinate courts and tribunals that fall under its jurisdiction shall stand extended till June 30, 2021 which was further extended to July 9, 2021 and then till August 13, 2021..[COVID-19] Bombay High Court further extends life of interim orders till August 13, 2021.The Bench had kept interim orders in abeyance owing to the second wave of COVID-19, after the Maharashtra government issued an order dated April 13 titled "Break the Chain", though which restrictions under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) were imposed in the State from April 14 to May 1..Story update: While dictating the order yesterday, CJ Datta directed that the interim protection would continue till August 30. However the order which was uploaded today says August 31. Story has been modified accordingly..[Read order]