The Bombay High Court has disapproved an order of Maharashtra Government of asking all the persons above 65 years of age to refrain from shooting and participating in any work on film sets due to COVID-19 pandemic. The bench consisted of Justice AS Gadkari and Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta.
They heard two petitions. One was filed by Indian Motion Pictures Producers Association (IMPPA) and second by actor Pramod Pandey to allow all the people above 65 years age group to work in the entertainment industry. The bench had allowed all technicians, producers, artists and workers to work. They have to stick to the advisory applicable to senior citizens as is the case of all the other citizens of the state.
The High Court has earlier pulled up the state government on this matter and asked how they can stop only these people from working and earning a livelihood? The court had appointed senior counsel Sharad Jagtiani during the hearing as amicus curiae in the matter. Pande and IMPPA were represented by advocate Ashok Saraogi.
One of the pleas said, “As per the list available with the petitioner, there are thousands of people aged above 65 years who were participating in the shooting of programmes prior to the lockdown. The shootings of such films and programmes have been left in between due to the non-availability of such people.”It further said that the guideline in this matter is not fair and practical as no other profession has imposed this condition.
