HC creates mechanism to comply with SC diktat on interim orders

‘List interim stay petitions once every six months’

The Madras High Court has created a mechanism to comply with the Supreme Court diktat that an interim stay of civil or criminal proceedings before the trial courts will get expired automatically after six months, unless such stay is extended by the High Court by way of a speaking order.

In a circular issued to the Registry, the High Court’s Registrar-General, P. Dhanabal, instructed the officers as well as the staff concerned to list all pending stay petitions, in which relief had already been granted, once in six months, so that the judge concerned could pass appropriate orders.

Making it clear that the interim stay petitions must be listed promptly and without fail, the R-G said the counsel on record would also be at liberty to bring the issue to the notice of the portfolio judge concerned if such interim stay petitions do not get listed once in six months.