SC maintains the Orissa HC order that returning migrants must test negative for Covid-19

The Superior Court had said Thursday that only those immigrants who test negative for COVID-19 should be allowed in the state.

The Supreme Court on Friday suspended an order from the Orissa Superior Court that had requested that “all migrants” entering the state test negative for COVID-19.

A bench of three judges of Justices Ashok Bhushan, Sanjay Kishan Kaul and BR Gavai approved an order, which further clarified that “stranded migrants will be treated in accordance with the order / guidelines of the Government of India dated 29.04.2020 read with the guidelines dated 01.05.2020 issued there by the Home Office (MHA). “

SC Bench referred to an order issued Thursday by a bank of two Orissa High Court judges, which had stated: The state government should ensure that all migrants queuing to come to Odisha receive a negative COVID result. -19 before boarding Transportation.

Following the superior court order, five trains, carrying migrant workers reportedly leaving Surat for Odisha on Friday, were canceled, putting people in limbo who had packed their bags for the return trip to Limbo. home, after the closing closed income and transportation. Links.

Odisha’s law minister Pratap Jena told reporters on Friday: “We have not received the order.” However, noting that the state government was well prepared to receive its migrant population, he added: “Many migrant Hates have registered and many have arrived. We are ready to care for them, for which we have 14,000 temporary medical camps (CCTs) and five lakh beds (statewide). ”

The SC bank stated on Friday that “we consider that the order of the Government of India dated 04.29.2020 offers broad protection.” It appears that before the High Court the order of the Government of India dated 04.29.2020 and the guidelines were not included in the notification and were not challenged.

The instructions of the Ministry of the Interior, as quoted in the judicial order, established that “people on the move would be examined and those who were asymptomatic could proceed. The buses will be used to transport groups of people. The bushes will be disinfected and They must follow safe rules of social distance in the seats.

“The States / UT that fall in the transit route will allow the passage of said people to the receiving State / UT. F. Upon arrival at their destination, local health authorities would evaluate that person (s) and quarantine them, unless the evaluation requires keeping the person (s) in institutional quarantine. They would be watched with periodic health checks. For this purpose, such people can be encouraged to use the Aarogya Setu application through which their health status can be monitored and tracked, ”said the order of the MHA instructions.

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For the latest news from India, download the Indian Express app.

© The Indian Express (P) Ltd