Mumbai: Decision To Permit Only Fully Vaccinated To Board Local Trains Doesn't Violate Fundamental Rights, Says Chief Secretary

On Wednesday, December 22, Maharashtra Chief Secretary Debashish Chakrabarty told the Bombay High Court that the resolution to allow only those fully vaccinated to travel by the local trains in Mumbai was undertaken since the Constitution permits reasonable restrictions to be implemented that benefit the public, reports stated. 

Chakrabarty went on to claim that the said decision doesn't violate any fundamental rights of the public, with their objective being to protect the lives of the people. On December 15, the High Court had asked the chief secretary who is also the CEO of the state disaster management authority and chairperson of the state executive committee to file an affidavit. 

Through the means of this affidavit, they sought an explanation behind the Maharashtra government's decision to undertake differences between those vaccinated and those not against the coronavirus.

A division bench has been hearing pleas challenging the state government's decision to allow only those fully vaccinated to travel by the local trains, visit malls and offices. Certain activists have sought permission for all in the MMR to travel by the local trains, irrespective of their inoculation status. 

The Chief Secretary in his affidavit mentioned that the restrictions on those non-vaccinated aren't just in local trains, but also other public transport. Therefore, there isn't any scope for discrimination. He added that COVID-19 vaccines are easily accessible with a significant number of the population being administered doses.

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