11 May,2021 03:15 PM IST | Mumbai | PTI
Photo for representational purpose
The existing restrictions on travelling in local trains, metro trains and monorails in Mumbai cannot be relaxed at this juncture as Covid-19 cases are still spreading, the Maharashtra government told the Bombay High Court on Tuesday.
State government's counsel PP Kakade told a bench of Justices KK Tated and Abhay Ahuja that only frontline health workers and state government staff are currently allowed to use the services of suburban trains, the monorail, and metro trains.
The bench was hearing a plea filed by the Cooperative Banks Employees Union (CBEU) seeking permission to travel to work by local trains, metro, and monorail services in the city.
CBEU counsel AS Peerzada urged the HC to allow the staff of cooperative banks to board trains to enable them to discharge essential banking services.
ALSO READ
Five-year-old boy dies after getting trapped inside car
Strict action to be taken against officers absent during election duty
Chitre unexpectedly joins Sena (UBT), slams MNS
Raipur lawyer claims stolen phone was used to threaten Shah Rukh Khan
Fire breaks out at building in Dadar, no one injured
"Even during the first wave of the pandemic, the railways and state authorities had in September 2020 permitted all cooperative and private bank officials to travel by local trains, metro trains, and monorail. Even currently, employees of nationalised bank are permitted to use local trains," Peerzada said.
Kakade, however, said the staff of nationalised banks was currently not allowed to use local trains during the second wave of the pandemic.
"Covid-19 infections in the state are still spreading. We can't open the trains for anyone else right now," he said.
The bench also noted the petitioner had not produced any documentary evidence to show that staff of nationalized banks is permitted to use local trains and dismissed the plea.
The HC, however, allowed the CBEU to approach the court again if it could produce documentary proof to show nationalised bank staff is permitted to travel in local trains.
This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.
