Amid a significant drop in the daily and active coronavirus cases, the Bombay High Court asked the Maharashtra government to withdraw its notification issued last year prohibiting people not vaccinated against COVID-19 from travelling in Mumbai local trains.
This comes on the day when the city reported less than 100 daily cases for the first time ever since the pandemic peaked in the city, that is in April 2020. On Monday, February 21, the city recorded 96 fresh cases and 1 COVID-linked fatality.
A two-judge bench of Chief Justice Datta and Justice M S Karnik was hearing two public interest litigations seeking that all people in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) be allowed to travel in local trains, irrespective of their vaccination status.
"Let bygones be bygones. Let there be a new beginning," Chief Justice Dipankar Datta said, adding that Chief Secretary Debashish Chakraborty must inform the court on Tuesday if the state government will withdraw its decision to permit only fully vaccinated people to travel in the suburban trains.
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The high court said, "Chief Secretary has to withdraw order (the notification on such prohibition). Whatever has been done by his predecessor (Kunte) is not in accordance with law."
"Withdraw this and allow people. Now, the COVID-19 situation has improved. Maharashtra handled it beautifully. Why are you inviting a bad name?" the court said.
The state must be sensible and not treat the issue as an adversarial litigation, the court’s order added. HC also sought the chief secretary's response by Tuesday afternoon, February 22, stating its decision on allowing unvaccinated in the local trains.
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