1. A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice S A Bobde, Justice L. Nageswara Rao and Justice Surya Kant, by exercising its power granted under Article 142 read with Article 141 of the Constitution of India has extended the period of limitation for filing appeals, petitions, suits and all other proceedings in Courts and Tribunals after taking the suo moto cognizance of this current pandemic. The Hon’ble Court vide Order dated 23.03.2020 has directed as under:-
“It is hereby ordered that a period of limitation in all such proceedings, irrespective of the limitation prescribed under the general law or Special Laws whether condonable or not shall stand extended w.e.f. 15th March 2020 till further order/s to be passed by this Court in present proceedings”.
- The outbreak of Covid-19 is affecting litigation in multiple ways and has also crippled the courts across the country as judges, advocates and litigants are trying to achieve justice under the law while balancing public safety. To meet the purpose of justice, the Apex Court along with high courts are using technology in its more advanced way in the form of e-courts i.e. audio- video hearing.
- The Reserve Bank of India by an order extended the moratorium period for the payment of loan EMI’s for a period of 6 months from march 2020 concerning the pandemic by special laws and orders.
- The law is being made and essential amendments are being done as The Central Govt amended the decade’s old Indian Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 and interpreted the concept of ‘essential Commodities ‘ to meet the requirements of the current situation.
- The rules of visiting were made stricter, and Fortunately, the prison mechanism meet the precautionary mechanism and fought the outbreak very well.
Conclusion – the legal procedures are being amended, by special laws and orders the essential elements are being provided to meet the minimum requirements of the public but no doubt this worldwide Epidemic as it was named by the WHO, is having a very bad impact on the Indian economy. Along with other working-class, The lawyer’s litigant community is not an exception.