Curbs on market timings as per Covid-19 lockdown guidelines, BMC tells Bombay HC

Rosy Sequeira | TNN | May 5, 2020, 22:29 IST

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation premises in Mumbai

MUMBAI: The BMC on Wednesday told the Bombay high court that its restrictions on the timings of markets in various ward areas of Mumbai is according to Covid-19 lockdown guidelines issued by the central and state governments.
Justice Riyaz Chagla heard a petition by advocate Prerak Choudhary, a resident of Colaba, challenging the a ward officer's April 27, 2020 order instructing the local police to restrain the timings of Colaba market from 8am to 12pm.
"In fact, such order is creating more pressure on the market and would further increase the crowds leading to possibility of spreading the virus,'' it added. Urging the court to set aside the order, Choudhury also sought direction to the state government and the BMC to enhance supply by increasing vendor timings and also preferably by home/society delivery.
Advocate Jigar Kamdar said social distancing norms are not maintained due to the crowding in the markets as the time period is very limited. It was then that BMC's advocate submitted that that the restrictions are fixed according to the central and state guidelines. Justice Chagla said the state and the BMC must file their replies. Assistant government pleader Jyoti Chavan said she will also seek instructions regarding the guidelines. Justice Chagla then directed the replies to be filed and posted the next hearing after three weeks.