'Do not block emergency passengers, including patients, at state border', Kerala High Court to Karnataka government

KOCHI: The Kerala High Court has directed the Karnataka government not to block emergency passengers, including patients, at the Kerala-Karnataka border. The court also ruled that patients with necessary documents should be allowed to pass the border and that regular passengers and students should not be blocked. The high court issued the interim order on two public interest petitions.

The High Court intervened after vehicles from Kerala were blocked at the Karnataka border citing the spread of Covid in Kerala. The High Court pointed out that under Covid SOP, the vehicle of patients should not be blocked. Patients should be allowed to cross the border if they have adequate documents. The court also ruled that regular passengers and students should not be blocked.

The Karnataka government had informed the court that the restrictions were based on an order of the Karnataka High Court. The Karnataka government has been asked to provide an affidavit in reply. The hearing of the petition was adjourned to the 25th of this month.