sng IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY CIVIL APPELLATE SIDE JURISDICTION PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION (St.) NO.92550 OF 2020 Mrs.Neelima Sadanand Vartak. .. Petitioner Versus Union of India and Others. .. Respondents --

Shri Shekhar Jagtap along with Ms. Sairuchita Chowdhary and Shri Ninad Naik i/b M/s. J. Shekkar & Co. for the Petitioner.

Shri P.P. Kakade, Government Pleader with Smt.Nisha Mehra, Assistant Government Pleader for the State.

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CORAM : DIPANKAR DATTA, CJ &

G.S. KULKARNI, J RESERVED ON : NOVEMBER 24, 2020 PRONOUNCED ON : DECEMBER 11, 2020 JUDGMENT: (PER DIPANKAR DATTA, CJ.)

1. The petitioner is a legal practitioner. In this writ petition styled as ‘Public Interest Litigation’, she challenges a circular issued by the Joint Secretary (MPLADS) to the Government of India, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, dated April 8, 2020.

2. The impugned circular was preceded by two circulars dated March 24 & 28, 2020. It would be appropriate to note what was provided by these circulars before we take note of the impugned circular.

3. On March 24, 2020, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MPLADS Division), had issued a circular on the subject of o