The High Court while hearing a public interest lawsuit seeking better facilities at quarantine centres, said that the district administrations have been repeatedly assuring the high court that concrete steps are being taken to contain the spread of Covid-19, but with the manner and the rise in pandemic in several parts of state, that any step lesser than a lockdown would be of no help.
The High Court has clearly stated that the administration has failed to control people from going out without purpose, prevent crowds in the markets and strictly follow social distancing norms. This is the reason why Corona cases are increasing rapidly in all cities. The bench said that without complete lockdown and its strict implementation, the infection of the coronavirus cannot be controlled.
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“Food is for life to survive and not vice-versa. We do not think that a lockdown for a fortnight would bring the economy of the state to such a halt that people would die of hunger," the bench observed, apparently suggesting the government to impose another lockdown for a fortnight.
On a softer note the bench said: "We do not doubt government's will but we are equally conscious that measures being taken are not enough and needed to be made more severe and stringent but of course, workable too at the same time."
The bench directed Uttar Pradesh chief secretary to tell it if there was any plan of action to contain the infection when the economy was reopened after the nationwide lockdown and if it was ever implemented. The court also asked the chief secretary if any action had been taken against district authorities who had not followed the plans, if there was any.
It also asked the chief secretary to come up with a road map to tackle the spread of infection from now onwards by the next date of hearing. The bench slated the matter for next hearing on August 28
Will a lockdown be imposed in UP?
After the HC has pulled up the administration, there are speculations that a lockdown may be imposed in the state, though the government has not yet announced any such decision. However, since the court has made an apparent suggestion of a lockdown, it is being reported that if the government does not provide a roadmap by next hearing, the court may issue an order in this regard.
The court on several occasions during the hearing of the matter in past too had issued various directions to the government to check the spread of coronavirus in the state.
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