Allow people in emergencies, HC tells Karnataka

PIL against blockade at inter-State borders

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Tuesday directed the Karnataka government to ensure that people in emergency situations such as death in family, medical treatment etc., are permitted to enter Karnataka on producing necessary documents to establish their respective cases, irrespective of the nature of the vehicle used for the purpose. The Bench comprising Justice Shaji P. Chaly and Justice A. Badharudeen passed the interim directive on a public interest litigation filed by Manjeswaram MLA A.K.M. Ashraf and another person complaining about the blockade being created by Karnataka on its borders with Kerala. Karnataka insisted on passengers having a negative RT-PCR certificate taken within 72 hours before entering the State. The petitioners also pointed out that emergency patients taken in ambulances alone were allowed to cross its borders.