Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) : 7 Latest Indian Courts Cases

Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) : 7 Latest Indian Courts Cases

 Mustafa Mh v. Union of India [Supreme Court]

About 500 Indian citizens from Ladakh, who had gone to Qom, Iran on a pilgrimage, are presently stranded there. About 250 persons who had also proceeded on a pilgrimage to Qom have been brought back to India. Several of the existing batch of 500 persons may have tested positive for Covid-19. 

Many of them have no funds available for their maintenance. Hence, urgent humanitarian assistance is required to be provided to these persons by the Government of India.

 Adityajit Singh Chadha v. Union of India [Punjab & Haryana High Court]

Maintaining social distance is a sine qua non to control the disease. The Administration may also solicit opinion of the specialists of infectious/communicable diseases, while taking a decision. Accordingly, the petition is disposed of with an observation that the Administration may lay down the parameters of social distancing at the time of distribution of essential items and also to monitor and regulate the same by taking stringent actions against the violators.

 Suo Motu v. State [Gujarat High Court]

In case any arrest is made during this period and the accused is lodged in a particular jail without ascertaining whether such accused being taken into custody is clean or is a suspect or infected with the Corona Virus, lodging him into jail where already hundreds and thousands of under trial or convicts are lodged, it would be an imminent peril to all the inmates of the particular jail where any new entry suspected or infected of the Corona Virus is introduced. It may result into disastrous situation where large number of inmates inside the jail may be infected thus defeating the social distancing and the extraordinary measures being taken for control and check of the Corona Virus. Therefore, it would be appropriate to direct the Department of Home, Government of Gujarat to consider this aspect and issue necessary circular / instructions to all the Superintendents of Police / Commissioners of Police throughout the State to ensure that before any accused is arrested and sent to jail, it is confirmed that he is not a suspect or infected with Corona Virus. It is only after such confirmation that an accused be lodged in a particular jail, otherwise the same be avoided for the period of crisis.

 Bablu Kumar Meena v. State [Rajasthan High Court]

Due to outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19), the lawyers are not appearing in the courts. Considering the material on record and taking into account the facts and circumstances of the case and also the fact that the case registered against the petitioner is under the Rajasthan Excise Act and without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this petition is allowed. Petitioner be admitted to bail subject to satisfaction of the trial Court. Office is directed to send a copy of this order to the concerned trial Court through e-mail/fax, for necessary compliance.

 Sanicchar Oraon v. State [Jharkhand High Court]

The RIMS, Ranchi shall provide N-95 masks to all the doctors and para-medical staff across the departments forthwith and to make appropriate arrangement including fully equipped separate (isolation) ward for treatment of the patients being admitted there with suspected case of Coronavirus. All preventive measures must be taken by the RIMS Administration so that if at all any patient is found positive of Coronavirus infection, the same should not spread to any other person.

 Nokia Technologies Oy v. Lenovo Group Ltd. [Delhi High Court]

It is stated that defendant No.1 is based in Hongkong and in view of the Coronavirus epidemic that is prevalent there at the moment, he has been unavailable to have the aforesaid pleadings and affidavits apostilled. Courier services between Hong Kong and India have also been impacted as a result of the medical emergency. The limitation for filing of the written statement on behalf of defendant No.1 is however expiring today. In view of the averments made in the application, and with the consent of learned counsel for the plaintiff, the application is allowed and defendant No.1 is permitted to file scanned copies of the notarised documents mentioned above, subject to the undertaking that the duly apostilled original documents will be filed as soon as they are received by learned counsel for defendants, and not later than eight weeks from today. In the event that the defendants require a further extension of time, they may make an appropriate application which will be considered on its own merits. The application stands disposed of.

 Court On Its Own Motion v. Nemo [Jammu and Kashmir High Court]

Given the nature of the infection, it is essential to not only anticipate the need for identifying the persons with COVID 19 infections/persons who have been exposed to infection/persons who may be possible carriers of the virus but also to ensure appropriate and adequately equipped isolation and quarantine facilities, as well as make provisions for medication; equipment necessary for treatment; masks for the public and separation kits for medical experts and health workers.