Can lawyers travel on trains, HC asks state govt to respond

MUMBAI :The Bombay high court (HC) directed the state on Tuesday to respond to a public interest litigation (PIL), which sought directions to permit lawyers to travel by suburban local trains, as they provide essential services. The PIL also claimed that as many lawyers do not own a private vehicle, it becomes difficult for them to commute to the court.

Currently, only government employees and essential service providers are allowed to travel by locals after services resumed last month.

A division bench of justice AA Sayed and justice MS Karnik, while hearing the PIL filed by Chirag Chanani and other lawyers through video-conferencing, was informed by lawyers Shyam Dewani and Bhoomi Katira that their clients sought a declaration that services rendered by lawyers are essential services. The plea sought to direct the state and Centre, through the railways, to include lawyers to the list of essential service providers who are permitted to travel by suburban local trains.

While making submissions, Dewani said lawyers were restricted from commuting by local trains and were not included in the circular issued by the divisional railway manager, enumerating the categories of essential services staff who can be permitted to board the trains.

Dewani said that as the courts started functioning since last month, the lawyers who are residing in the suburbs go through tremendous inconvenience to travel to the courts as their offices are located in south Mumbai.

After hearing the submissions, the bench issued notices to the respondent authorities and directed them to clarify their positions through affidavits in reply and posted the case for further hearing after two weeks.