Illegal: HC On Govt Orders Allowing Only Fully-Vaccinated In Mumbai Trains

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Tuesday said the Maharashtra government’s 2021 orders allowing only those fully-vaccinated against COVID-19 to board Mumbai local trains was illegal.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice MS Karnik observed that the three orders signed by the then Chief Secretary to the government Sitaram Kunte deviated from the procedure laid down under the Disaster Management Rules.

“The orders passed by the former chief secretary were in a clear twist of the prescribed procedure. Due to fileal orders, fundamental rights of citizens were shamelessly affected,” the HC said.

On Tuesday, government counsel Anil Antoorkar told the court that three pending orders (issued on July 15, August 10 and August 11, 2021) have been withdrawn.

“In the spirit of the observations made by the High Court, the three orders are withdrawn. A meeting of the state executive will be held on Februaryyy 25, after which new instructions will be issued.

“We may withdraw the ban (on use of local trains by unvaccinated people or dose-takers) or implement it based on the current COVID-19 situation. At this stage, I cannot say anything further,” Antoorkar said.

The bench then pointed out that the number of people who tested positive for coronavirus in Mumbai on Monday was the lowest in 20 months.

“We are hopeful and confident that the State Executive Committee will take an appropriate decision on February 25 keeping in view the declining trend of COVID-19 cases,” the HC said. And will take the matter forward on February 28. Posted for hearing.

According to the city’s civic body, on Monday, Mumbai reported 96 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest single-day increase since April 17, 2020.

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