🌸The Maharashtra government on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that it would be holding a meeting to review the existing coronavirus-related restrictions in keeping with the latest directives from the Centre over ending all COVID-19 containment measures from March 31.
🐻The Union government on Wednesday issued a letter saying all state governments can consider discontinuing the issue of orders and guidelines under the Disaster Management Act for COVID-19 containment measures. The letter comes in the wake of the continuous dip in coronavirus cases.
🐻However, wearing of face mask and maintaining social distancing norms will continue as earlier. Senior counsel S U Kamdar, appearing for the state government, told a division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M S Karnik that pursuant to the letter, the state executive committee would hold a meeting and take further decision.
⛦The bench was hearing public interest litigation (PIL) that challenges the Maharashtra government's directive that one must have received both doses of the anti-coronavirus vaccine to travel in Mumbai's suburban trains and use other modes of public transport in the city.
🌄The bench took note of Kamdar's submission and pointed out that the Supreme Court has reserved its orders on a plea of similar nature. The court then adjourned the hearing on the plea till April 5.
The PIL, filed by one Firoze Mithiborwala through advocate Nilesh Ojha, challenged a circular dated March 1, 2022, that was issued by the Maharashtra government to list out the standard operating procedures and safety measures citizens must follow in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The restriction on travel on public transport, including local trains, for the unvaccinated was included in the circular.
🍷Mithiborwala said in his PIL that the travel restriction was arbitrary, unconstitutional, and an "indirect attempt" on the Maharashtra government's part to make vaccination compulsory.
With PTI inputs.
