Section 144 In Maharashtra : Advocates Offices Allowed To Open With 50% Capacity If Courts Are Working

The Maharashtra Government has listed advocates offices as an "exempted category" in the order issued under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure yesterday to impose state-wide restrictions on public movement in the wake of COVID-19 surge.

Advocates offices are allowed to open with minimum staff, not more than 50% capacity, if the concerned courts, tribunals or Commissions of Enquiries are working.

The restrictions imposed by the order will be effective from 8 PM today(April 14) till 7 AM on May 1.

The order lists certain activities as "essential categories" and certain other activities as "exempted categories"

All establishments, public places, activities except those specified, are to remain closed.

"Essential Category" activities are totally exempted from restriction.

"Exempted Category" activities are allowed to operate from 7 AM to 8PM without restrictions. Since advocates offices are under "exempted category", they can function from 7 AM to 8PM.

No one can move in public places without valid reasons.

Essential services include :

• Hospitals, diagnositic centers, pharmacies,
• Any pharmaceutical company
• Veterinary services, pet food shops
• Grocery shops, vegetable vendors, bakeries
• Cold storage and warehousing
• Banks
• SEBI-reccognised market infrastructure
• Telecom services
• Transport of goods
• Water supply
• Agriculture-related services
• E-commerce
• Export-import of all commodities
• Accredited media
• Petrol pumps
• All cargo services
• Electric and gas supply
• ATMs
• Postal services

Decision regarding domestic workers/drivers/attendants to work shall be taken by local authorities, depending on the situation.

Local trains and bus services will not be shut down entirely but will be used for essential services and exemption categories only.

• Auto: Driver + 2
• Taxi: Driver + 50 percent of occupancy
• Bus: Full seating but no standing passengers

All vehicles are to be sanitised after every trip.

Resturants and hotels are shut.Only takeaways and home deliveries will be allowed for restaurants and even street food vendors. Street food vendors cannot have people standing in front of them and eat. They can have the stalls, but there cannot be a crowd in front of them.

Restaurants and bars inside hotels will be available only for guests.

The following activities will be shut :

• Cinema halls
• Drama theatre and auditorium
• Water parks, amusement parks, game parlours
• Clubs
• Swimming pools
• Gyms and sports complexes
• Shooting for films/serials/advertisements
• Beaches
• Gardens
• Barber shops, salons
• All religious places of worship will remain closed.
• Schools and colleges will remain closed. The rule is relaxed for students of Class 10 and 12 to the extent of their exams alone.
• All private coaching classe will be closed.

Exemption categories

Exemption categories are allowed to function from 7 AM to 8PM with a maximum of 50% capacity.

i. Offices of Central, State and Local governments, including of their statutory authorities and organisations

ii. Cooperative, PSU and Private Banks

iii. Offices of companies providing essential services

iv. Insurance Mediclaim Companies

v. Pharmaceutical company offices needed for management of production distribution

vi. RBI regulated entities and intermediaries including standalone primary dealers, CCIL, NPCI, payment system operators and financial market participants operating in RBI regulated markets. All Non Banking Financial Corporations

vii All micro finance institutions

ix. Offices of advocates if operations of Courts, Tribunals or Commissions of Enquiries are on

Click here to read/download the order