Kerala HC directs banks, IT, financial institutions to defer

: In the backdrop of the rampantly spreading coronavirus, the Kerala High Court on Thursday directed banks, financial institutions and Income Tax authorities to defer recovery proceedings till April 4.

Authorities dealing with GST, recovery of tax on motor vehicles and building tax have also been asked to stall recovery proceedings till April 4, Justice Amit Rawal said in his order.

Recovery cases were piling up in the court on a daily basis and today itself 80 such cases had come up, the judge said.

Observing that handling of the files by staff of the High Court and Advocate General's office was being done without proper precautions, the court said in view of the present scenario, lawyers and the staff rendering assistance to the court and the judges are vulnerable.

The directions were being issued to prevent the rampant spreading of the virus, it added.

"The order will not be an impediment for any defaulters who want to avail the amnesty scheme as and when such scheme is promulgated," the court said.