Thread by @barandbench

#BombayHighCourt to hear clutch of petitions on various issues pertaining to #COVID19 management in #Maharashtra and availability of drugs to treat #mucormycosis.

Hearing before CJ Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni.

@CMOMaharashtra
@mybmc

AG Anil Kumbhakoni and ASG Anil Singh appears for State and Central governments respectively.

Advocates Arshil Shah, Rajesh Inamdar, Simil Purohit, Ajinkya Udane appear for the petitioners.

@ArshilAjay
@rajinamdar22
@ajinkyaudaneadv

The Court will also hear application filed by #SonuSood seeking intervention on the ground that the orders being passed in the PILs may affect him and hence he is necessary party.

@SonuSood

Hearing begins.

AG Kumbhakoni is making submission in the application filed by MUMBAI BIDI TAMBAKHU VYAPARI SANGH raising grievance against an earlier order making observations against bidi and cigarettes.

#BombayHighCourt

Kumbhakoni: They are worried a blanket order may be passed restraining sale of tobacco and bidis.

He submits a report by the Tata Memorial Centre, Institute for AtomicResearch.

#BombayHighCourt

Sr Adv Ravi Kadam appearing for Federation of Retailers (small time retailers) an intervenor requests for intervention.

On the issue of good or bad, smoking is bad, no doubt: Kadam

#BombayHighCourt

Kadam: But there are studies by CSIR which show that the effects of smoking on the beginning of the throat actually safeguards smokers from the virus.

But this is one report, there are other reports as well.

#BombayHighCourt

Court: But CSIR is for industrial research, why should they say something in medical field.

Kadam: This report that I am referring to has doctors as well.

Court: But then we have TATA’s report...

Kadam: Milords will have to consider all reports, no doubt about it.

#BombayHC

Kadam: all I am submitting is that there are reports which says that smoking affects lesser.

Court: Ok we will admit the intervention applications.

#BombayHighCourt

Adv Atharva Dandekar appearing for the petitioner requests for dispensing of amending the petition for adding the intervenors.

Court: This is a PIL. Let people join and let those come on record. Why should they fight like Meghnad?

#BombayHighCourt

Court: We are adjourning the smoking issue to the next date.
But we will continue with the hearing of other issues.

#BombayHighCourt

AG submits that they have a dashboard ready. Apart from the 2 districts that already have a functional dashboard, they will merge other 32 and make it available for public in 2 weeks.

#BombayHighCourt

AG is now making submissions on the investigation being conducted for the supply of COVID drugs.

AG gives the status report.

#BombayHighCourt

AG: Zeeshan Siddique MLA responded saying that he was only facilitating the distribution, he was not procuring or hoarding.

#BombayHighCourt

Adv Milan Desai submits that he is appearing for Sonu Sood for his intervention application.

Bench says will hear him post recess.

Hearing to continue post lunch.

#BombayHighCourt

Hearing continues.

#BombayHighCourt

AG: In the smoking issue, Mr. Kadam relied upon an article of the CSIR.
But during lunch time my junior did some basic research and found this clarification issued by CSIR.
They have issued classificatory article.

#BombayHighCourt

Court asks AG to share the document with the senior counsel for the intervenor.

#BombayHighCourt

AG now continues with his submissions in the COVID management PIL.

#BombayHighCourt