Control Overcrowding In Mumbai’s Public Places: HC To State Govt Amid COVID-19
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday expressed concern at overcrowding in public places in Mumbai, like Marine Drive, amid COVID-19 and asked the state government to control it.
A full bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta, Justices AA Syed, KK Ted and PB Varale said that the government, officials and citizens should learn from earlier experience and said that according to experts, the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is knocking at our doors.
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In our meeting of the Administrative Committee of the HC, lawyers and other experts, an expert, Dr Rahul Pandit, who heads the Supreme Court-appointed Special Task Force, pointed out that the third wave of the pandemic is pandemic is knocking at our doors, Chief Justice Datta said.
Unless all security protocols are followed, the state will face imminent danger. He said that Dr Pandit was also of the view that the country cannot get rid of COVID-19 at least till April 2022.
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The High Court said that photographs published in various newspapers show crowds gathering on Mumbai beaches like Juhu Chowpatty, Girgaum Chowpatty and Marine Drive.
If you (the government) don’t control or ban it, the same situation is bound to happen. We need to draw from our experience, the court said.
The bench extended till September 30 all interim orders passed by the High Court as well as all subordinate courts and tribunals in Maharashtra and Goa.
“Consideration is taken by experts, given the situation of uncertainty and the ensuing festivities that may pose a threat to humankind, we are of the opinion that the interest of justice will be served if the protective interim orders are extended till September 30,” said the court.
The high court also said that its full bench will meet on September 24 to review the situation.
On Monday, Mumbai reported 334 new COVID-19 cases, the sixth consecutive day when the tally topped 300, taking the number of infections to 7,43,832, while the death toll rose by two to 15,976. Gaya, a civic official had said earlier.
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