Corona Lockdown: Kerala MP moves Supreme Court seeking de-sealing of Karnataka-Kerala border for the movement of emergency vehicles

A Member of Parliament from Kerala, Rajmohan Unnithan, has moved the Supreme Court seeking direction for the State of Karnataka to open its border with Kerala to allow passage of emergency vehicles such as ambulances amid the nation-wide lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic..The plea seeks directions for the opening up of the border, particularly along the Kasargod-Mangalore border and for Karnataka to allow passage of ambulances and other vehicles carrying emergency and essential supplies..The blockage imposed by the State of Karnataka at a time like this is violative of Articles 21 and 19(d), the petition states. .Further, it is submitted that the blockade has resulted in a shortage of essential supplies in Kerala given that the trucks and vehicles transporting the same have not been allowed passage across the State border..It is also added that a senior citizen lost her life as she was not allowed entry into Karnataka for receiving treatment which was available only in Mangalore. The petitioner says,."This ill planned and dangerous blockade has claimed the life of a 70 year old woman who was denied entry into Karnataka even for the purpose of urgent medical treatment which was only available in the medical hub of Mangalore. This is a clear case of violation of the right to life with dignity by the state as citizens are made to die on the roads because of the action of the state which is in total disregard to Article 21.".Unnithan is an MP from the Kasargod constituency of Kerala. In his petition points, he also points out that the Kasargod district shares most of its border with the State of Karnataka and that it is heavily dependant on Mangalore for medical facilities. .He further adds that the State of Kerala may face shortage of supply of food and other commodities given that it is a consumer State and most of the food products, including vegetables and groceries consumed in the State, come from Karnataka via State and National Highways. .These roads, however, have all been sealed now in light of the nation-wide lockdown that came into force from March 25 onwards. The same is causing difficulties to the people of Kerala, particularly in Kasargod, the petition states.."The State of Karnataka has closed these roads by making mud mounds on the roads preventing even the pedestrian movement into the State of Karnataka from the State of Kerala. The above acts of the officials of the State of Karnataka are causing many difficulties for the people of Kerala especially of the people of Kasaragod."Rajmohan Unnithan.The MP also throws light on the notification issued by the Centre on March 29, which said that transportation of all goods across the states will be allowed without any distinction of essential or non-essential goods. The continued blockade of the border by Karnataka despite such a notification is not only against the guidelines, but also against the public at large, Unnithan's petition states..The move to seal the borders completely, which is also in violation of the Centre's notification, will have far reaching consequences and lead to a humanitarian crisis, the petition adds.."... the State of Karnataka has acted in complete disregard for the people in the State of Kerala. This move has and will in the future cause great hardship to the people in Kerala in tackling with the present crisis of Coronavirus especially when essential items such as food and medical treatment have been denied to the people."Petition states.Therefore, the MP has sought for the borders to be opened up for movement of vehicles carrying commodities as well as for ambulances. .Additionally, the petitioner has also sought for a Court monitored SIT probe to look into the actions and events that led to the two deaths in Kasargod due to the border blockade..The petition has been filed by Advocate Pallavi Pratap and drawn by Advocate Haris Beeran. .[Read the Petition]