The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Saturday ordered the district and sessions judges to obtain reports from jail superintendents of the province regarding spray in jails, supply of sanitizers, masks, hand gloves, screening of inmates and tests of the coronavirus.
The court directed the district and sessions judges to submit reports within three days and ordered that if any accused is remanded to judicial custody, he should be subjected to screening and test of the coronavirus by mentioning the same in the order.
Meanwhile, the SHC announced that there would be no bar on filing of suits, appeals, revisions, reviews and applications etc. within the period of limitation because of the lockdown in the province from March 23 to April 5, 2020.
According to a notification of the SHC, exponential threats from the coronavirus (Covid-19), the Sindh government has imposed a complete lockdown across the province from 23-03-2020 for the next 15 days.
Due to the restricted movements of people including litigants it is difficult for them to file suits/appeals/ revisions/ applications/petitions/other judicial proceedings either civil, criminal or constitutional for reasons beyond their control.
In the larger interest of justice, the SHC stated, it becomes imperative to facilitate the litigants to file such suits/appeals/revisions/applications/ petitions/other judicial proceedings either civil, criminal or invoking constitutional jurisdiction etc. before this court and number of legal forums subordinate to this court, whose statutory period of limitation may expire during this period.
Therefore, while exercising powers under the Constitution and the Sindh Chief Court Rules of Sind Civil Courts Rules, the SHC notified that for the purpose of Section 4 of the Limitation Act, 1908 ("the Act"); as to computing the period of limitation stipulated in the 'Act' and its 'Schedules', or any other law for the time being in force, this court and its Offices which include the institution branches at the Principal Seat, its Bench at Sukkur and Circuit Courts at Larkana and Hyderabad; and District Courts, Ex-Cadre Courts and all other Legal Forums and their Offices; under the control and sub-ordination of this Court, shall be deemed to be closed from 22-03-2020 till 15-04-2020 (both days inclusive) for the litigants who are unable to approach on account of lockdown announced by the Federal/Provincial Governments.
Notwithstanding, there shall be no bar on filing of suits, appeals, revisions, reviews, and applications etc. within the period of limitation stipulated by the Act or any other law.