"Why can't lawyers be allowed in local trains?" Bombay High Court asks Maharashtra government to take a decision before July 1

The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed Maharashtra government to come up with a decision before July 1 on permitting lawyers in Mumbai to travel by local trains. .The Bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni was hearing batch of petitions seeking directions to the State to include lawyers and their registered clerks in the list of "essential service providers" eligible for travel relaxations amid COVID-19 pandemic.It was pointed out to the Court by advocate Uday Warunjikar, appearing for a petitioner in the case, that as lawyers were not permitted in local trains during the second wave and as alternate transports like buses were lesser in number, lawyers were facing hardships to travel to court for hearings. .While CJ Datta responded that the government ought to be given time to come to a decision considering the present circumstances, he assured the petitioners, that if the State government does not come to a favourable decision, then the Court will intervene.He also mused that every day while coming to court, he observed that local trains are running but were empty, so why weren't lawyers allowed to travel by trains.He told the Chief Government Pleader PP Kakade to convey this direction to the Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni."Lawyers not being able to come to courts will increase pendency of cases, which will be so high that even a hundred judges in the High Court will not be able to reduce the pending cases," CJ Datta expressed his concern..The Court also indicated during the hearing that on July 1, after the Maharashtra government has taken a decision on the pandemic, the administrative committee of High Court will take a decision on the status of court hearings - whether to revert to physical hearing or continue with virtual hearings. .The lead petitions in the matter are filed by the Chirag Chanani through M/s Dewani Associates and Bar Council of Maharashtra and Goa through Advocate Sumit Kate. The connected application for registered clerks was filed by Advocate Ajinkya Udane. Several other lawyers had also filed intervention applications in this PIL.The matters have been posted for hearing next on July 3, 2021.