The Bombay High Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing on a PIL seeking COVID-19 vaccination for lawyers and judges on priority.
Saying some decisions must be left to the “executive’s wisdom”, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday adjourned the hearing on a PIL seeking COVID-19 vaccination for lawyers and judges on priority.
It was rather “selfish” of the petitioners to seek vaccination on priority for the judiciary, the court observed.
A bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni was hearing a plea filed by Mumbai-based lawyers, seeking that members of the judiciary, advocates and their staff be considered as frontline workers and they be provided vaccine against COVID-19 on a priority basis.
Advocates Vaishnavi Gholave and Yogesh Morbale, the petitioners, filed the plea last week through their counsels Vinod P Sangvikar and Yashodeep Deshmukh.
On Wednesday, the petitioners’ lawyers told the bench that the HC worked throughout the pandemic period and all lawyers, judges, and staff continued to work, regardless of the risk of contracting the viral infection.
However, the bench reminded petitioners that many others, such as sanitation workers and staff of several private organisations, also continued to work in this period.
“Why not file a PIL for the staff of private organisations, dabbawalas? That way everyone is a frontline worker,” the bench asked.
“Something should be left for the executive’s wisdom. Tell us what is wrong with the policy? A policy decision cannot be interfered with by the court unless there is arbitrariness,” the bench said.
The government was doing a fine job with the ongoing vaccination programme in the country, the bench noted.
It was rather “selfish” of the petitioners to seek vaccination on priority for the judiciary, the court said.
Chief Justice Datta said: “Have you seen the movie ”Titanic”? Do you recollect captain of ship? He has to wait till others are evacuated.”
“First everyone gets it and then judiciary. I am the captain here,” he said.
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