The Prime Minister announced a nationwide lockdown on 24.03.2020 to stop the spread of COVID-19. The lockdown began at midnight of 24.03.2020 and will last for 3 weeks. The duration of the lockdown is attributed to the health experts recommended 21-day cycle that is said to end the infection cycle of COVID-19. During the lockdown, essential services will be available.
The Ministry of Labour & Employment issued an advisory on 20.03.2020 to the employers of Public/Private Establishments. The Ministry advised employers to not terminate or reduce the wages of their employees, especially casual/contractual workers if they take leaves or if the work is suspended. The advice came in the backdrop of the COVID-19 scare before the lockdown was announced on
Bombay High Court issued a circular on 23.03.2020 regarding its functioning in view of the outbreak of COVID-19. The circular stated that only matters of extreme importance will be heard in two functioning courtrooms, each headed by a single judge. One court will hear all civil matters and the other will hear all criminal matters. The cases will be heard
The lord chief justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon, suspended jury trials entirely until appropriate precautions are put in place for COVID-19. However, the jury trials already begun are to be either adjourned or if necessary be heard with safety measures in place. Lord Burnett said arrangements have been made to conduct hearings, other than jury trials, using digital modes. Lord
The parliament passed the Finance Bill 2020-21 without discussions, in the wake of COVID-19. Some opposition leaders interrupted the voting demanding a financial package dealing with the impact of COVID-19 on livelihoods. However, Speaker Om Birla told the members that he met with the floor leaders who agreed to pass the Bill without discussions in view of the current situation
The Supreme Court of India is going digital, given the COVID-19 scare, limiting human interaction. The Chief Justice of India S A Bobde, in the morning session, stated that the filing in the Supreme Court would be done online via e-filing, launched in 2018 and the dates of hearings (if any) will be sent to the lawyers vide e-mails. The
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the latest Citizenship Bill on 20.03.2020. The new legislation grants citizenship to approximately 50,000 of the 97,000 stateless people in Uzbekistan. Under the much-celebrated legislation, those who received permanent residency in Uzbekistan prior to January 1, 1995, will be given citizenship. The Secretary-General’s office of the United Nations also issued a statement praising the legislation that
The Supreme Court of India has begun hearing matters via video-conferencing to limit the human-interaction amidst the outbreak of COVID-19. On 23.03.2020, the bench comprising of Chief Justice of India S A Bobde and Chairman of E-Committee, Justice D Y Chandrachud heard three cases via video-conferencing successfully. However, only Court No. 1 heard the matters via video conferencing on 23.03.2020,
The Gujarat High Court has refused the petition filed by Rajendra Singh Shekhavat, requesting a stay on the release of film Padmavati. According to Shekhavat, the film misinterprets historical facts hurting the emotions of the Rajput community. Sanjay Leela Bhansali disagreed saying that the petition was premature since the film has not even been submitted before the Central Board of Film
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a futile petition challenging Dr. Akhilesh Das Gupta’s election as the president of Badminton Association of India in the year 2014. The petition was filed by Dr. Surendra Poonia, who stated that the election were illegitimate, capricious, without any reasoning and against the rules and regulations relevant to the Badminton Association of India. HC
