What are restraining orders and when they are granted?

The court has various mechanisms to legally enforce the rights of the parties. Restraining orders are one of those. Restraining orders, also referred to as protective orders, are used to protect an individual, general public, company or entity from unauthorized actions of the defendant. The court can order the parties to restrain from some activities during the legal proceedings and thereafter. The orders may prescribe one party to maintain a specific amounts of distance from the aggrieved person, not to release confidential information in IP and business-related law suits, not to conduct business that was received through violation of other party’s rights and not to do or refrain from doing all kinds of actions if those are contrary to the existing law or may prevent the achievement of justice. For example, the court may put a ban on certain activities while the case is pending and before the final decision is issued in order to preserve status quo of the parties. The court can also include a restraining order in the final disposition of the matter by prescribing one party to refrain from certain actions in the future. Restraining orders can be permanent or temporary depending on the subject matter and fairness.