“Cases in Delhi are 40 times more than UP; cannot open Noida border” UP govt tells SC

The Supreme Court took up for hearing the petition asking for reopening of the Noida, Gurgaon and Ghaziabad borders to facilitate easier movement of persons throughout the NCR region.

Uttar Pradesh government told the Supreme Court today that it will have to continue the travel restrictions imposed from Noida and Ghaziabad to Delhi since the number of COVID-19 cases in national capital are almost 40 times that of Noida and Ghaziabad. The UP government said that it will allow pass-through only for essential services workers, media persons, and advocates, at least for now.

The Haryana government, on the other hand, told the Supreme Court that movement for all persons was allowed to and fro from the Gurgaon border.

Read: '5.5 Lakh Cases, 80k Beds By July 31': Sisodia's Delhi Forecast As Kejriwal Submits Sample

The Supreme Court, in the course of the hearing, also sought a response from the UP government on the orders issued by the District Magistrate of Noida recently.

Criticising the order passed by the Noida DM, the Supreme Court said that such orders cannot be passed by District Authorities which are directly contrary to the orders passed by the Centre.

The Central Government has, from the beginning, encouraged home quarantine for persons showing symptoms for COVID-19 and in some cases, even persons who have tested positive.

Read: Delhi: Teachers Go On Hunger Strike Over Wages, Appeal To CM Kejriwal To Take Action

“Such situations will create chaos,” the Supreme Court bench said criticising the DM’s decision on the necessity of institutional quarantine over home quarantine.

The State of Uttar Pradesh has been asked to furnish a response clarifying how the order passed by the DM was allowed while also directing the DM himself to review his order.

The Supreme Court also asked for the minutes of meeting between the Home Secretary along with Chief Secretaries of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to be filed before the top court by today evening.

Noting that there are “some serious issues” with reopening the Delhi borders, the Supreme Court has adjourned the hearing until next Wednesday.

Read: Delhi HC Orders Civic Bodies To Suspend Biometric Attendance To Prevent COVID-19 Spread

Read: COVID-19: MCD Requests Delhi CM Kejriwal To Release Rs 1500 Cr To Pay Employees' Salaries