New Delhi, Apr 4: The Supreme Court on Friday urged Karnataka and Kerala to amicably resolve their issues concerning a border blockade that has choked the free flow of vehicles carrying essential items and patients in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Karnataka, which imposed the blockade, justified that its border was sealed to “combat the spread of the pandemic by preventing the movement of people from the bordering districts of Kerala to Karnataka”.
The State had moved the Supreme Court, challenging a Kerala High Court order on April 1 to open the border. Kerala has countered that patients from the State cannot be denied access to health care. Besides, the blockade has severely affected the supply of essential items, from medicines to food, to Kerala.
On Friday, a Supreme Court Bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao and Deepak Gupta urged the States to not confront each other in the midst of an unprecedented public health crisis. Instead, it asked the Chief Secretaries of both States to sit with the Union Health Secretary and iron out a solution. Meanwhile, the apex court urged Kerala not to take any precipitative action based on the High Court order.
The court issued notice to Kerala on the appeal filed by Karnataka, represented by advocate Shubhranshu Padhi. It listed the case for further hearing on April 7.
Karnataka, in its appeal against the High Court order, said the blockade was put in place in the interest of public health. The situation regarding Coronavirus was “really dire”, it said. It warned that opening the blockade would cause a law and order issue as its local population wanted the border to remain sealed.
Karnataka argued that Kerala was the “worst-affected” State in the country with nearly 194 coronavirus cases. In this, Kasaragod, adjoining Karnataka, was the “worst affected” district of Kerala with over a 100 positive cases.
MP’s plea
The court also separately considered a writ petition by Kasaragod MP Rajmohan Unnithan for an order to forthwith open the State border.
The parliamentarian, represented by advocates Haris Beeran and Pallavi Pratap, urged the court to issue an ex-parte stay on the operation of the blockade imposed by Karnataka with its border States.
Mr. Unnithan said Karnataka’s blockade was “ill-planned and dangerous” and had led to loss of lives. Two patients from Kerala, in need of urgent medical care, died after their ambulances were denied entry at the border by the Karnataka authorities.
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be ready to go again to JAIL.
If Yeddi becomes CM once again (People of Dakshina Kannada still remember) to support attack on Churches and Pubs, as before which his party likes !!!
Open Dhamki to Police..Super Yedi ji. Police When they stop public for small offense dey dont know how to behave. Now what will dey do to Yeddi's Dhamki ? Police Force Please Wake up.Tumari tho Laga dega Yeddi Jii. Full Confident on being CM. Guess who will be Deputy CM ? At this age he wants to be CM.
Keep dreaming OK ?
Hello Mungerilal your cm dream is like Thirukana Kanasu. Be mature and talk like a qualified poloiticIan. Police dept are honest with their duty. If you became CM Law and order and Indian Constitution is equal to all. You RSS have to bend in front Indian Constituton. We all experienced your dirty mind and capacity during your past ruling. Karnataka is not belongs to any desk drohi it is belong to qualified patriot Indians. Your rss policy will never work out. Only because of nagpur hq money power u may able to get some goonda rowdy's support.
Stop your nonsense .
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