It would be like inviting explosive transmission of coronavirus and its variants, HC to state
The Maharashtra government on Wednesday told the Bombay High Court that allowing unvaccinated people to use public transport was inviting explosive transmission of coronavirus and its variants.
A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice MS Karnik was hearing two PILs filed by one Firoz Mithiborwala and Yohan Tengra, which claimed that the state’s circular barring unvaccinated people from taking public transport, equality against the right.
The court, however, said the state’s decision was just and not discriminatory or infringing on fundamental rights. “The unvaccinated people were prohibited from using public transport to ensure that they do not mix with other citizens and spread the virus,” the court said.
The Maharashtra government in its affidavit said, “Unfortunately, the problem is not over yet. There is a possibility of a third wave and there is also a possibility of the spread of the new variant Omicron. So the government cannot take any risk and would like to err on the safe side on the issue of public health.”
Recalling the situation during the second wave, the state said, “It was a disastrous time for public health administrators and officials, who had to ensure adequate medical aid, hospital beds and oxygen supply for citizens. It does not want to repeat the dire situation and research proves that people who have taken both doses of vaccines are less likely to contract the serious virus. ,
The matter has now been fixed for hearing on 3 January 2022.
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