Amid the lockdown in the state due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Bombay High Court on Monday made an appeal to lawyers and litigants not to file non-urgent matters as directed earlier, failing which exemplary costs will be imposed on them.
The court on Monday said that despite earlier directions, which directed that only urgent matters will be taken up, some lawyers and petitioners were coming to court to mention non-urgent matters. Following which, the Bombay HC cautioned that if the non-urgent matters are brought before the court, it would impose up to ₹50,000 on such litigants and lawyers.
Earlier, in the wake of the pandemic, the High Court had directed that it will function for two hours from March 17 until further orders. The court had specifically stated that it will take up only extremely urgent matters.
On Monday, a division bench of Chief Justice Bhushan P Dharmadhikari and Justice A A Sayed was hearing PILs seeking additional measures by the state government. One of the PILs questioned the facilities at Kasturba Hospital in Mumbai, where COVID-19 patients were quarantined. On the other hand, another PIL sought an extension for the collection of taxes, duties and income tax filings.
The bench adjourned the hearing on a PIL alleging lack of facilities at Kasturba Hospital by a week after the petitioner's lawyer failed to turn up. As per the PIL, the quality of the food was poor at the hospital, and the court was also shown pictures of stray dogs and cats roaming the hospital premises.
So far, the number of positive cases in Maharashtra is 101 after four new cases emerged on Tuesday. The Maharashtra government has imposed a state-wide curfew to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
“I am compelled to announce a statewide curfew. People were not listening and we are compelled to impose the same. All district borders will be sealed and no inter-district transportation will be allowed. We will not allow it (coronavirus) to spread to districts which are unaffected,” said CM Uddhav Thackeray.
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