[Kerala-Karnataka Road Closure] Closing border in only one district of Karnataka is 'ridiculous': Karnataka High Court

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday pulled up the State government for failing to modify its earlier order which had imposed restrictions on travel from borders of Kerala to Karnataka. .A Division Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Vishwajith Shetty was informed that the State government had not modified the order dated February 18, issued by the Deputy Commissioner of District Disaster Management Authority of Dakshina Kannada, which had restricted entry of people from Kasargod district in Kerala to Dakshina Kannada district in Karnataka through four checkpoints. .Taking strong exception to this stand of the Government, the Bench orally asked that, ."There are 25 entry points. You are limiting it to four entry points. Under what law are you doing it? You are acting contrary to the orders of the Central Government.".The Division Bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition challenging the restrictions imposed by Karnataka government on the movement of public along the Kerala-Karnataka Border in view of Covid-19..The Court recorded in its order that as per the minutes of meeting held on 8th March, 2021 under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner, there is no modification made to the order dated February 18, in so far as it completely closes all entry points from Kerala to Karnataka in Dakshina Kannada district, except four which are mentioned in the said order. "Thus, if any person wants to enter Karnataka from Kerala, even after complying with circular dated February 16, issued by the State government, he will have to enter the state of Karnataka only through four entry points which are mentioned in order dated February 18," the Court said. .The Court was further of the opinion that the government circular dated February 16, 2021 does not provide for closing of entry points. ."If there are 25 entry points, and you have his RTPCR certificate in your pocket, but you say that 'you travel for 50 kilometers and then enter'...?A person from Kerala travels by air. Can you tell him to only enter only by one Airport? Can you do that? No...This is what you are doing now...".In response, the government advocate submitted that the restriction in thiedistrict of Dakshina Karnataka has been imposed only because many people travel for the purpose of education and employment.."This looks ridiculous on record. People from Kerala have restriction only to enter through one district and can enter from other districts," the Court responded. .During the previous hearing, the Bench had orally remarked that roads cannot be closed in violation of the guidelines issued by the Central government; instead, infrastructure should be put in place to screen people."You can't keep the roads closed. Create infrastructure for checking persons (for COVID-19) at borders," the Court had said..The matter will be heard again on March 18.