New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday pulled up the Kerala government for giving in to the association of traders for relaxing Covid curbs for 'Bakrid' festivities. The court on its part did not stay the notification of the state government. But said that the state government should follow its instructions given in the case of Kanwar Yatra. In the Kanwar case, the court had asked the UP government to give more importance to the right to life than religious sentiments.
The Apex Court sought a response on yesterday from the Kerala government for three-day relaxation to open markets on the occassion of Bakrid. But the LDF government in response had defended the decision of relaxing amid the growing Covid caseload.
A bench comprising Justice RF Nariman and BR Gavai said: "We may only say shocking state of affairs...the relaxation of a day in category D (areas having high Covid positivity rate) is wholly uncalled for." The bench emphasized, "Pressure groups of any kind, religious or otherwise, cannot in any manner interfere with citizens' fundamental right to life."
Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for the petitioner in the top court challenging the Kerala government's decision to relax Covid curbs for the Bakrid festivities, emphasised that the top court should pass some order in the matter, as today is the last day of Covid curbs relaxation.
Justice Nariman replied, "There is no point. The horse has already bolted." Justice Nariman added if pleas were filed earlier, then surely something could have been done.
The top court pointed out that the Kerala government also gave in to an association of traders, who urged the government to relax Covid lockdown norms for Bakrid festivities. "What is extremely alarming is that category D, where the infection rate is the highest, a full day of relaxation was granted," noted the top court.
The Supreme Court emphasized that if there is any spread of the infection due to these relaxations, then any person can bring it to the notice of the court which will take appropriate action, the top court concluded the hearing.
After forcing the Uttar Pradesh government to use its influence over religious bodies to postpone the annual 'Kanwar Yatra', a bench headed by Justice R.F. Nariman on Monday had asked for the Kerala government's response on the plea against relaxation of Covid curbs for Bakrid festivities.
The application against the Kerala government's decision to relax Covid curbs was moved by PK Nambiar, a Delhi resident, in the suo motu case already initiated by the Supreme Court in connection with the Uttar Pradesh government's decision on Kanwar Yatra.
(With inputs from IANS)