The Bombay High Court consisting of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta witnessed an unselfish stance over the plea looking vaccinating the judges, lawyers and the court staff on a priority basis. CJ Dipankar Dutta remarked that while others are equally at risk, it would not set the right precedence for the legal fraternity to stand ahead of others.
The court opined that the decision concerning priority vaccination should be by the executive considering the position it holds. The court drew an analogy between the captain and the judiciary. The remark was, when a ship is about to experience havoc, the captain waits till the end. The court even clarified the situation by using the instance of Titanic.
The matter put forward by Advocates Vaishnavi Gholave and Yogesh Morbale filed a petition that sought to vaccinate the members of the judiciary, advocates and the court staff on a priority basis. The petitioners were unhappy with the Central and the State Government for not categorizing the legal fraternity as ‘frontline workers’. Furthermore, the plea threw light on the High Court Judges being above 45, which involved a high risk followed by an impaired dispensation of justice.
Lastly, the Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh said that similar matters are pending at various High Courts, transferred to the Supreme Court. And the court remarked that the lawyers to be given priority once the Government decides on this matter.
