HC extends all interim relief till Feb 28

PRAYAGRAJ: Due to increasing COVID-19 cases, the Allahabad high court has extended all interim orders passed by the high court at Allahabad, or its Lucknow bench or at all the district courts and other courts across Uttar Pradesh, that were ending on or before December 31,2021 till February 28, 2022.

Hearing a suo moto PIL, a division bench comprising chief justice Rajesh Bindal and justice Piyush Agrawal further directed that the orders granted by criminal courts in the state, regarding bail or anticipatory bail for a limited period, which are likely to expire before February 28, 2022, shall stand extended for a period till February 28, 2022. “Any orders of eviction, dispossession or demolition, already passed by the high court, district court or civil court, if not executed till the date of passing of this order, shall remain in abeyance for the period till February 28, 2022,” the court added. The court further directed that the state government, municipal authorities, other local bodies and agencies of the state government “shall be slow” in taking action of demolition and eviction of persons till February 28, 2022. Besides, any bank or financial institution shall not take any action for auction in respect of any property or an institute or person or party or anybody corporate till February 28, 2022, the court added.

However, the court made it clear that in case of extension of interim orders, any undue hardship and prejudice of any extreme nature is caused to any of the party, the said party/parties would be at liberty to seek relief by moving appropriate application before the competent court and the general direction issued by this order shall not be an embargo in considering such application and deciding the same after affording an opportunity of hearing to all the parties to said case. The court directed to list this PIL on February 24, 2022 for the next hearing.