Providing major relief to the senior citizens on a film crew, the Bombay High Court on Friday, August 7, revoked conditions imposed by the Maharashtra government through two Government Resolutions (GR), which barred any cast or crew members who are senior citizens of the country, above 65 years, at the shooting site of fiction or non-fiction programming during the coronavirus crisis.
During the coronavirus-induced lockdown, the Maharashtra government had permitted shooting with certain guidelines. However, artists, technicians and directors over the age of 65, as well as any creative person, were barred from going on set for the shoot. The government had claimed that since the coronavirus has a higher chance of impacting the senior citizens, it would be advisable for them to stay at home.
However, the Bombay High Court questioned the move, stating that the government’s rule was oppressive further questioning that if the government does not stop a senior citizen from opening his or her shop and sitting there all day, then on what grounds was it prohibiting artists from working and earning a livelihood.
A division bench of Justice S J Kathawalla and Justice R I Chagla passed the ruling on the pleas challenging the restrictions. Along with actor Pramod Pandey (69), Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA) through advocate Ashok Saraogi also approached the HC seeking to revoke the conditions imposed by the state government on May 30.