Bombay High Court Allows Artistes And Technicians Aged Above 65 To Resume Shoot

Here’s a big announcement! In the wake of Coronavirus, senior citizens/people aged 65 or above were advised to stay at home and were barred from shooting. They were advised to take all the necessary precautions by wearing a mask, maintaining social distance and washing hands. While many had raised their voice for banning people from shooting for movies or TV shows and earning for livelihood, Bombay HC had pulled Maharashtra government from banning senior artistes from shooting.

Now here’s good news. Bombay HC has quashed Maharashtra government’s order to ban actors from shooting, and has now allowed actors, crew members and others to go on the sets. Earlier, a division bench of SJ Kathawala and Justice Riyaz Chagla tagged two petitions, filed by IMPPA and actor Pramod Pandey. Court had asked the State govt. to explain the logic behind barring people from earning livelihood. Court had asked the State govt. counsel advocatePurnima Kanthariya if there was any clause to stop a 70+ shop owner from opening his shop and work to which Mr. Purnima had said, “there wasn’t.”

Confirming the same, ANI Tweeted, “Bombay High Court allows all persons above 65 years of age working in the entertainment industry to work on a film set. The court sets aside the state government order.” Reacting to the decision, filmmaker Atul Kasbekar wrote, “Well done Mumbai High Court! The judgement call on whether to get back to work or stay at home should be that of the senior citizen and no one else’s” (ALSO READ: Dharmendra On Guidelines That EXCLUDE Actors Above 65 From Working Amid The COVID-19 Outbreak, 'Work Is Worship, Show Must Go On')