Ahmedabad: There has been a roster change in Gujarat High Court. The pleas on COVID-19 control measures and migrants issues are to be heard now by a different bench composition of Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice J B Pardiwala. The matter so far now was being heard by bench of JJ Pardiwala and Ilesh J Vora.

On March 13, a bench comprising Chief Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Ashutosh J Shastri registered a suo moto PIL (Public Interest Litigation) titled “Precautionary Measures In The Wake Of The Pandemic of Corona Virus (COVID-19)”. On May 11, a bench comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Ilesh J Vora took suo moto cognizance of the issue of migrants in Gujarat, and clubbed it along with the matters pertaining to COVID-19 control. This bench had been hearing it since then, along with PILs on the issues.

On May 22, the bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and Ilesh J Vora passed critical comments against the alleged pathetic conditions in Ahmedabad Civil Hospital as regards COVID-19 patients, and passed a slew of directions.The bench also passed directions for migrant workers.

Later, the State Govt had filed application to recall the scathing observations made by the High Court against Ahmedabad Civil Hospital. On May 25, the same bench headed by J Pardiwala considered the matter.

Now Chief justice Vikram Nath will lead the bench while justice JB Pardiwala, who was leading the bench previously, will be a junior judge in the bench.