Owing to the possible third wave, the Bombay High Court on Saturday announced that lawyers will not be permitted to avail of local train services till the end of July.
The division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni stated that it isn’t within its purview to overrule medical experts’ opinions by judicial order. Thus, taking into cognizance the task force’s position, Mumbai local train services will continue to remain available to the few permitted. Therefore, at least till July end, lawyers will not be able to use suburban trains. Authorities claim that there is a possibility of a third wave if the public is permitted to travel by the local trains. Currently, only state government and public administration employees are allowed to benefit from the said services.
This hearing was put in place after a petition was filed by the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa against the exclusion of lawyers from suburban train travel. The Bombay High Court revealed that in its administration meeting with the task force officials, the possible improvement of the current scenario being expected to occur by August was discussed. Taking into consideration the same, further hearing is scheduled on 3rd August.
On the other hand, the railway passenger associations have warned of a protest if their demands to use the local trains aren’t met. They have written a letter to the state government and claim that no one in the Mantralaya is accepting it. The associations have also voiced the plight private sector employees and labourers in the manufacturing sector face because they don’t have access to local train facilities.
At the same time, Maharashtra Tourism Minister, Aaditya Thackeray when quizzed about Mumbai local train services last month, mentioned that a decision to open the train services for all will only be undertaken post consultation with the task force members. He also added that the easing of curbs will occur in phases.
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