[COVID-19] Collector revises order allowing 200 people to congregate after Bombay High Court intervention; Exercise more caution, says Court

A Collector's order allowing a congregation of 200 people for an event hosted by the Serva Sewa Sangh amid the COVID-19 pandemic recently drew the disapproval of the Bombay High Court. .After the Court gave the Collector an opportunity to reconsider the order, he chose to revise the permit to allow 50 people to congregate instead..However, the Nagpur Bench on Friday observed that the Collector at Wardha, Maharashtra showed no change in his attitude. ."We would only like to say that for his own good, he exercises more care and caution in future," the Court said..The Court noted that after they granted liberty to the Collector to revise his earlier order, he obtained a fresh application from the Trust to seek revision of the order or for the grant of new permission for a smaller gathering..The Bench of Justices SB Shukre and AG Gharote recorded that they were expecting a reply from the Collector reflecting upon his earlier mistake. The order passed by the Court last Friday read:."We would have appreciated that the reply filed by the Collector, reflected upon the realisation of the mistake committed by him … This gives an indication that there is no realisation of mistake on the part of the Collector, rather the Collector has fondness for functioning with the same attitude as he has displayed earlier. This may not stand in good stead for him in future and therefore, we would only like to say that for his own good, he exercises more care and caution in future.".All the same, the Court declined to intervene further, and dismissed the petition filed against the congregation with a word of admonition for the Collector.. There is no realisation of mistake on the part of the Collector...We would only like to say that for his own good, he exercises more care and caution in future.Bombay High Court.The Court directed the Collector to ensure that not more than 50 people take part in the convention. To avoid complication, he was also directed to obtain a list of attendees from the Trust in advance..The petitioner filed through Advocate AS Athalye had challenged the permission given by the Collector to the Trust to organise a social gathering in Wardha, despite directions from State government to prohibit all large public gatherings and congregations..On November 25, when the matter was heard for the first time, the Court noted that the Collector had violated the restrictions placed by the State government which prohibited large public gatherings till November 30, 2020..At the time, the Court granted the Collector liberty to withdraw his permission, “if it is realised by him that said order is not consistent with he State government orders.”.[Read order].[Read earlier order of November 25]