Deepali Kalia-
A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Mohan Bhide, a chartered accountant through advocates Shekhar Bhagat and Neelaja Kirpekar in the Bombay High Court, has sought complete relaxation of all travel restrictions to enable fully vaccinated people to be able to travel by local trains/metro/ suburban trains.
The petition sought directions to the Maharashtra government to allow travel, once 15 days are complete from the second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Fully vaccinated persons should be permitted to lead normal lives and should be allowed to go about their daily businesses by following COVID-19 related appropriate behaviour”, the plea prayed.
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“As more citizens would be interested in vaccination, it will act as a catalyst in achieving the goal of getting the full population vaccinated and it will drive the economic growth since more population will become fully vaccinated and will start working. Relaxation, if granted, will motivate the citizens to take the vaccine and ultimately it will reduce the risk of the third wave”, the plea submitted.
The plea also stated that as a huge population of the State of Maharashtra has been fully vaccinated, and approximately 30% of the total population of the State has received at least one dose, therefore, it should be safe for the fully vaccinated people to start their regular lives including travelling via public transport.
It also stated that their offices should be opened, shops to work full time according to the rules which were in place before the COVID-19 lockdown.