Allowing unvaccinated people to use public transport will invite explosive transmission of COVID-19 Maha govt to HC
Mumbai Dec 22 PTI The Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court on Wednesday that allowing unvaccinated people to mix with others by using public transport will endanger the lives of others and invite explosive transmission of the coronavirus and its variants The government of Maharashtra as parens patriae guardian of the state cannot afford to take that risk it said an affidavit submitted in the HC The decision to prohibit people who were yet to receive both doses of COVID-19 vaccine from using public transport in the state had been taken to ensure those unvaccinated do not endanger the lives of others it said Allowing unvaccinated persons to mix with other people by using public transport will only endanger the lives of others and will invite explosive transmission of the coronavirus and its subsequent variants the government said in the affidavit filed through its chief secretary The Maharashtra government told a bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M S Karnik that such a decision was reasonable and not discriminatory or in breach of a citizens fundamental rights The unvaccinated people were prohibited from the use of public transport to ensure they do not mingle with other citizens and add to the spread of the coronavirus it said The state government filed its affidavit in response to two public interest litigations filed by one Firoze Mithiborwala and one Yohan Tengra claiming the states circular prohibiting unvaccinated people from travelling in local trains in Mumbai was without logic and in breach of such citizens right to equality Last week the HC had directed the Maharashtra government to file an affidavit explaining the rationale behind such prohibition On Wednesday the state said unvaccinated people were prohibited from not just the use of local trains but from all modes of public transport in the state The decision had been taken after consultation with experts and members of the states special task force for tackling COVID-19 it said The state government submitted that as on December 20 this year a total of 54 people in the state had been infected with the Omicron varaint of the virus It further said that as per data available till December 20 there were 544 new cases of COVID19 infections and four deaths due to the viral infection Unfortunately the problem is not over yet There is likelihood of a third wave and also the likelihood of spread of the new variant Omicron the affidavit said The government of Maharashtra therefore cannot take any risk and would like to err on the safer side on the issue of public health it added The state also submitted data on the devastating second wave of COVID-19 that hit people earlier this year and how state authorities struggled to ensure adequate medical aid hospital beds and oxygen supply for citizens The government said it did not want a repeat of such dire situation There was adequate research to prove that those who had taken both the doses of vaccine were less likely to contract severe COVID-19 or to require prolonged hospitalisation it said It urged the HC to dismiss the PILs saying such a prohibition on the unvaccinated people was reasonable The state government further said the petitioners themselves had received both the doses of vaccine While taking the vaccine is not mandatory for citizens in the country adequate vaccine doses and slots are now available across the state for those interested in taking the vaccine the state said The HC will hear the matter further on January 3 2022 PTI AYA GK GK
Mumbai Dec 22 PTI The Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court on Wednesday that allowing unvaccinated people to mix with others by using public transport will endanger the lives of others and invite explosive transmission of the coronavirus and its variants The government of Maharashtra as parens patriae guardian of the state cannot afford to take that risk it said an affidavit submitted in the HC The decision to prohibit people who were yet to receive both doses of COVID-19 vaccine from using public transport in the state had been taken to ensure those unvaccinated do not endanger the lives of others it said Allowing unvaccinated persons to mix with other people by using public transport will only endanger the lives of others and will invite explosive transmission of the coronavirus and its subsequent variants the government said in the affidavit filed through its chief secretary The Maharashtra government told a bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice M S Karnik that such a decision was reasonable and not discriminatory or in breach of a citizens fundamental rights The unvaccinated people were prohibited from the use of public transport to ensure they do not mingle with other citizens and add to the spread of the coronavirus it said The state government filed its affidavit in response to two public interest litigations filed by one Firoze Mithiborwala and one Yohan Tengra claiming the states circular prohibiting unvaccinated people from travelling in local trains in Mumbai was without logic and in breach of such citizens right to equality Last week the HC had directed the Maharashtra government to file an affidavit explaining the rationale behind such prohibition On Wednesday the state said unvaccinated people were prohibited from not just the use of local trains but from all modes of public transport in the state The decision had been taken after consultation with experts and members of the states special task force for tackling COVID-19 it said The state government submitted that as on December 20 this year a total of 54 people in the state had been infected with the Omicron varaint of the virus It further said that as per data available till December 20 there were 544 new cases of COVID19 infections and four deaths due to the viral infection Unfortunately the problem is not over yet There is likelihood of a third wave and also the likelihood of spread of the new variant Omicron the affidavit said The government of Maharashtra therefore cannot take any risk and would like to err on the safer side on the issue of public health it added The state also submitted data on the devastating second wave of COVID-19 that hit people earlier this year and how state authorities struggled to ensure adequate medical aid hospital beds and oxygen supply for citizens The government said it did not want a repeat of such dire situation There was adequate research to prove that those who had taken both the doses of vaccine were less likely to contract severe COVID-19 or to require prolonged hospitalisation it said It urged the HC to dismiss the PILs saying such a prohibition on the unvaccinated people was reasonable The state government further said the petitioners themselves had received both the doses of vaccine While taking the vaccine is not mandatory for citizens in the country adequate vaccine doses and slots are now available across the state for those interested in taking the vaccine the state said The HC will hear the matter further on January 3 2022 PTI AYA GK GK
