Shocking state of affairs, SC raps Kerala for relaxation in Covid curbs

The Supreme Court on Tuesday made some serious observations criticising the Kerala government's order for allowing a three-day relaxation in Covid-19 restrictions ahead of Bakrid festival, in districts where positivity rate exceeded 15 per cent. The court shows this is a "sorry state of affairs". "It is a shocking state of affairs that the Kerala government has given in to the demand of traders to relax lockdown norms," the top court said. Calling it an alarming situation, the bench of justices RF Nariman and BR Gavai said that pressure groups of any kind, religious or otherwise, cannot in any manner interfere with the most precious right of life and health of citizens of India.

The court directed the government to pay heed to Article 21 and its order in the Kanwar Yatra case. Last Friday, it had cited the fundamental right to life to ask the Uttar Pradesh government to reconsider holding the annual Hindu congregation. However, it did not cancel the government notification that eased the lockdown in Kerala. Justice Nariman said, "There is no point. The horse has already bolted. We are not quashing the notification." If any untoward incident takes place due to this relaxation, public can bring to our notice and action will be taken accordingly," a two-judge bench told the Kerala government. Kerala, defending its decision to ease the lockdown to celebrate Bakrid, told the court that the relaxation had been on since June 15 and was nothing new. It also cited the miseries caused to traders who were expecting Bakrid sales to alleviate their economic problems.