Mumbai News

Bombay HC notice to govt on book sale as essential service – Times of India

Bombay high court

Mumbai: Bombay high court on Friday issued notice to the Centre and State on a plea to include sale of books as an essential service in view of Covid-19 curbs.
A bench of Justices K K Tated and Prithviraj Chavan heard a petition filed in April by Marathi Prakashak Parishad, a Pune-based association of Marathi publishers, to direct the Centre “to add sale of books as an essential service” under the Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1968.
The petition says the lockdown severely affected book publishing in Marathi and other languages. “Everyone cannot afford laptops, smart phones, “books are the source of getting education, knowledge, wisdom, entertainment,” it adds. At a time when lockdown-like situations have increased mental health issues, books would “provide great help to people living in anxiety,” it says.
The petition informs that in response to the lockdown, publishers in the US started a #BooksAreEssential campaign online in April 2020 which was picked up across the world. In India, the Kerala government took the initiative to consider books as an essential service. “The administration in Kerala has remained positive on the need for bookstores to open,” it states.
The petition cites how parents in Pune faced difficulties in purchasing school books. Book shops are situated at Appa Balwant Chowk which is close to a containment area. “The shops were shut down,’’ it says, requesting HC to “consider such situations.”
The Parishad has also urged that the State be directed to see if it can take a decision in the same manner as the Kerala government. Asked by the judges if the respondents – Centre and State – were present, the Parishad’s advocate Ajinkya Udane replied that the petition copy was served to them. The judges then directed issue of notice and posted the hearing after four weeks.

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Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/bombay-hc-notice-to-govt-on-book-sale-as-essential-service/articleshow/85914058.cms