Allahabad High Court: A Division Bench of Govind Mathur, CJ and Siddhartha Varma, J. issued directions modifying the the Court’s Order dated 26-03-2020.
By the order dated 26th March, 2020 following directions were issued by this Court in view of lockdown:
“(i) All interim orders passed by the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad well as at Lucknow, all the District Courts, Civil Courts, Family Courts, Labour Courts, Industrial Tribunals and all other Tribunals in the State over which this Court has power of superintendence, which have been expired subsequent to 19th March, 2020 or are due to expire within a period of one month from today, will continue to operate upto 26th April, 2020. We, however, make it clear that those interim orders which are not of a limited duration and are to operate till further orders will remain unaffected;
(ii) If the Criminal Courts in the State have granted bail orders or anticipatory bail for a limited period which are likely to expire in one month from today, the said orders will stand extended for a period of one month from today.
(iii) If any orders of eviction, dispossession or demolition are already passed by the High Court, District or Civil Courts, the same shall remain in abeyance for a period of one month from today;
(iv) Considering the fact that it will practically impossible for the citizens to approach the Courts for redressal of their grievances for a period of twenty-one days specified in the order of the Ministry of Home Affairs dated 24th March, 2020, we sincerely hope that the State Government, Municipal Authorities and the agencies and instrumentalities of the State Government will be slow in taking action of demolition and eviction of person.
To modify the order dated 26-03-2020 accordingly as under:-
(i) All interim orders passed by the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad well as at Lucknow, all the District Courts, Civil Courts, Family Courts, Labour Courts, Industrial Tribunals and all other Tribunals in the State over which this Court has power of superintendence, which have been expired subsequent to 19th March, 2020 or are due to expire within a period of one month from today, will continue to operate upto 10th May, 2020. We, however, make it clear that those interim orders which are not of a limited duration and are to operate till further orders will remain unaffected;
(ii) If a bail has been granted in anticipation as an interim measure for a specific period and that period is going to expire on or before 3rd May, 2020, the same shall stand extended upto 15th May, 2020.
(iii) If any orders of eviction, dispossession or demolition are already passed by the High Court, District or Civil Courts, the same shall remain in abeyance till 15th May, 2020 or having any order order by the court competent, whichever is earlier.
This order be published in the official website of this Court. A soft-copy of this order shall be sent to all concerned Courts and Tribunals; the learned Advocate General; the learned Additional Solicitor General of India; the learned Assistant Solicitor General of India; State Public Prosecutor and the Chairman of Bar Council of Uttar Pradesh. [In Re v. State of U.P., PIL No. 564 of 2020, decided on 22-04-2020]