The Madras High Court on Saturday issued a notification by which the summer vacation holidays stands postponed sine die subject to any decisions taken in future.
The High Court issued two office memos by which the summer vacation for the subordinate courts and the courts in the union territory of Pondicherry are cancelled and the courts shall work regularly during the period i.e. 1st of May to 31st of May, 2020.
The notification issued by the High Court reads as, “due to extraordinary situation that has emerged on account of the spread of the corona virus pandemic and in view of the limited nature of the functioning of the High Court due to lockdown in the state of Tamil Nadu as a result of corona virus pandemic and in order to ensure full and effective functioning of the Hugh Court, the summer vacation of the High Court of Madras and Madurai bench of Madras High Court, from the 1st of May, 2020 to 31st of May, 2020 stands postponed sine die subject to any decisions taken in future.”
This decision of Madras High Court came amid demands made by the legal community across the country to postpone the summer vacation holidays of the all courts to make up for the loss caused due to outbreak of pandemic COVID-19. Delhi High Court and Telangana High Court have already cancelled the summer vacation holidays and shall be working during the said period of vacations.
The Supreme Court of India is yet to take a call on cancellation of its summer vacation holidays. Many lawyers’ body including Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has written to Chief Justice of India to consider cancelling of summer vacations and ensure functioning of the court during the vacation period.
-India Legal Bureau