BOMBAY HC- ALLOW EVERYONE TO USE LOCAL TRAINS IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR VACCINATION STATUS

The Bombay High Court inquired whether the State of Maharashtra is willing to withdraw the circulars, wherein the Maharashtra Government restricted people who are not fully vaccinated, from traveling in locals. 

The HC emphasized that the COVID situation has improved, and the present restrictions on the use of local transport were unwarranted and inviting bad names. However, the HC bench appreciated the Maharashtra government for controlling the Covid-19 situation in the State.

A Bench of Chief Justice (CJ) Dipankar Datta and Justice MS Karnik had earlier sought records of meetings that led to the State government's decision of barring completely vaccinated people from using locals. As the same was under challenge in the public interest litigation.

Once the files were produced and examined, the bench opined that the circulars have been passed not in accordance with the law. The Bench directed the State to file an affidavit by Tuesday and adjourned the hearing. Senior Advocate Anil Anturkar for the State submitted that no record regarding the circulars had been maintained due to administrative difficulties. 

Referring to the affidavit, the Bench stated that it was unacceptable to not have minutes, proceedings of the meeting that the officers allegedly conducted. The Bench further asked the Union government if any national plan had been formed related to the vaccination status of people and the use of public transport. 

In response, the Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh stated that while there was a national plan, the same had been formulated in 2019 before the COVID pandemic hit. He further clarified that the government had been issuing guidelines during the COVID period and was accepted by the Top Court from time to time during hearings of COVID cases.