'Local Train Travel Essential For Mumbai People' : Bombay High Court Urges State To Reconsider Curbs

The Bombay High Court on Monday stressed on the importance of local train travel for citizens to earn their livelihood in a city like Mumbai. It urged the State to consider forming an expert committee to look into citizens' commute woes.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni observed there was no logic in allowing one group but not another after being informed that journalists are still not allowed to take the Mumbai local.

The court batted for train travel for all fully vaccinated citizens.

"You cannot compare Mumbai with any other city. We can say this is a city with special needs. It can probably be comparable with Calcutta or Delhi. Every time something is required, there are PILs.. why not an administrative committee to look into such issues?"

"Travelling by train in Mumbai is essential for people..bus charges are very high. These are important issues which touch the livelihood of people… so if the administrative machinery is geared up to look into these issues, everything would be fine," Justice Kulkarni said.

On Thursday, the court was hearing a clutch of PILs seeking directions for local train travel for vaccinated lawyers, journalists and fully vaccinated citizen in Mumbai.

Local Train For Lawyers

The State informed the court that lawyers, registered clerks and certain staff might be able to travel in local trains by Monday. Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni said that a letter from the State Disaster Management Authority to the Central Railways would be issued by the end of the day and lawyers can get their monthly passes over the weekend.

Lawyers would have to approach their respective Bar Associations or the Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa with their vaccination certificates. Association or council would then certify they are fit to travel by observing Covid protocols, the AG submitted.

Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh said railways would issue appropriate orders and allow lawyers once the Centre received the State's letter.

Meanwhile, one of the oldest journalists associations, the Marathi Patrakar Sangh informed the court that they were still not allowed local train commute and that 140 journalists had lost their lives while working during the pandemic.

The bench asked the State to consider the recommendation and posted the matters for hearing on Monday.

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