e-Pass: State to continue with ‘existing’ guidelines

Staff Reporter :

Though the Central Government has asked the States to ensure that there should be no restrictions on inter-State and intra-State movement of goods and persons during unlocking process, Maharashtra will continue with the ‘existing guidelines’. As a result, the local police authorities have continued with checking of e-passes. Anil Deshmukh, Home Minister of Maharashtra, tweeted on Saturday that State Government had ‘taken note of’ the recent guidelines announced by the Centre regarding removal of all restrictions on inter-State and intra-State movement of goods and people.

“Appropriate decision will be taken regarding the same after discussion with Hon’ble CM & DCM,” he had tweeted. However, on Sunday evening, in another tweet, Deshmukh stated, “As per the discussions held with Hon’ble CM, the existing #MissionBeginAgain guidelines will be in effect in Maharashtra, till any further announcement.”

The ‘existing’ guidelines issued under Mission Begin Again by State Government were issued on July 29. As per the guidelines, vide which lockdown was extended in the ‘entire State of Maharashtra’ till the midnight of August 31, 2020, the District Collectors and Municipal Commissioners concerned were directed to ‘enforce certain measures and necessary restrictions’ considering the local conditions. These restrictions in specified local areas included those on the permitted non-essential activities and the ‘movement of persons’. As part of ‘Unlock 3.0’, Central Government had allowed inter-State travel without any restrictions. However, in Maharashtra, e-passes was mandatory.

Following the Centre’s latest directives, there has been demand on social media platforms for easing of restrictions and e-pass norms in Maharashtra too. But, as of now, e-passes are being issued and checked too. Asked about the status of e-passes for travel within State, Dr Bhushan Kumar Upadhyay, Commissioner of Police, said, “We are waiting for the instructions of the State Government. Once the State Government issues directives, checking of passes will be discontinued.”