Manjeshwar MLA moves SC against travel curbs imposed by Karnataka govt

Kasargod, 04 Oct 2021 [Fik/News Sources]: Manjeshwaram MLA AKM Ashraf has approached the Supreme Court against Covid-19 related curbs imposed by Karnataka government on travellers from Kerala.

According to the Karnataka government’s mandate, even the individuals who are fully vaccinated should submit RT-PCR test result taken within 72 hours to travel from Kerala to Karnataka. However, citing the impracticality of 72-hour valid test for daily commuters and the central government’s stance on inter-state travel, the MLA requested the Supreme Court to intervene on the matter.

In his plea, Ashraf stated that the travel restrictions imposed by Karnataka government is against natural justice and basic human rights. Earlier, Kerala High Court had dismissed the plea filed by Ashraf among others, challenging Karnataka government’s decision to restrict entry from Kerala at borders of Kasaragod and Mangaluru only to those having a negative RT-PCR report.

The plea stated that many people in Manjeshwaram are commuting to southern part of Karnataka including Mangaluru on a daily basis for job, education and business. It will be impractical for them to take RT-PCR test every three days, the plea pointed out.

The union government has made it clear that those who are fully vaccinated does not require to produce RT-PCR certificates. The petition challenged the mandate and requested that students should be allowed to enter without any restrictions as schools and other educational institutions are reopening.