The Delhi High Court on Monday (July 13) ordered the extension of all its prevailing interim orders till August 31. These orders were due to expire on July 15. The decision has been taken due to the existing situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A special bench, headed by Chief Justice D N Patel and Justices Siddharth Mridul and Talwant Singh, took note of the prevalent situation in Delhi and also took note of the fact that four employees have also tested positive for COVID-19 from the Delhi HC itself.
The court further said that the aim of the decision is to ensure that the return of the released prisoners does not translate into a reason of the virus being spread into the prisons.
Around 2,000 under-trials had been released on bail because of their risk of contacting COVID inside jails or the risk of them spreading the disease inside jails. The last time the court had extended all its interim orders till July 15.
The bench today also noted that the appropriate relief may be sought in case of any hardship caused by the said extension.
The bench directed that the order be uploaded on the website of the high court and be conveyed to all the standing counsels, UOI, GNCTD, DDA, civic authorities, the Delhi High Court Bar Association, all the other Bar Associations of Delhi, as well as to all District Courts subordinate to this Court.
– India Legal Bureau