The Supreme Court has asked Kerala to respond to a petition challenging a three-day relaxation of COVID restrictions
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Kerala government to file its response during the day on an application challenging the state’s three-day relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions in advance of the Bakrid festival.
At a press conference on July 17, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced the concessions, saying that because Bakrid (Eid-ul-Azha) is celebrated on July 21, textiles, footwear stores, jewellery, fancy stores, shops selling home appliances and electronic items, all types of repairing shops, and shops selling essential items would be allowed to open on July 18, 19, and 20 from 7 a.m.
The case was heard in the Supreme Court by a bench of Justices R F Nariman and B R Gavai.
After the counsel for Kerala stated that he would file a reply to the application, the bench instructed him to do so during the day and stated that the matter would be heard as the first item on Tuesday.
The application was filed in the case in which the Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognizance of media reports on the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to allow the Kanwar Yatra in the midst of the COVID pandemic last week.
During the video-conference hearing, the bench reviewed the affidavit filed by the Uttar Pradesh government, which stated that Kanwar Yatra will not be allowed this year due to the pandemic.
During the video-conference hearing, the bench reviewed the affidavit filed by the Uttar Pradesh government, which stated that Kanwar Yatra will not be allowed this year due to the pandemic.
The bench stated that authorities at all levels should take stern and prompt action against any untoward incident that directly affects citizens’ lives.
