KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has withdrawn its orders such as the extension of interim orders, including stays of courts and tribunals, deferment of recovery proceedings of banks and granting parole to prisoners. The orders were issued by the court following the lockdown. The decision of the full bench comprising the Chief Justice was taken in view of the lockdown relief and the normalcy of public life.

Prisoners who got parole during the lockdown must return to prison within four weeks. The lockdown was announced on March 24, 2020, as the spread of COVID in the country intensified. The High Court considered the matter as a voluntary petition, considering that it affected the functioning of the courts and the people could not come out. The High Court extended the interim orders, including the stay granted by the courts and tribunals, by one month and later extended it in several stages.

The government had also told the high court that it had suspended water, electricity and excise recovery. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court and other High Courts considered the same issues as voluntary petitions. The Supreme Court had directed to limit the number of inmates to control the spread of COVID in jails. Prisoners and trial prisoners who could be sentenced to up to seven years in prison were later released on parole. Defendants' bail and anticipatory bail were extended until the lockdown was completed. Recovery of banks was also blocked. Banks should follow the directions of the Supreme Court and take further action.