Plea Filed In Supreme Court Against Kerala’s CPM Govt’s Decision To Relax Lockdown For Bakrid

A day after the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has strongly criticised the decision of CPM led Kerala state government to relax lockdown restrictions for the Bakrid festival, a plea was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday (19 July) against the Kerala government on the matter of lockdown relaxation.

The Bench, headed by Justice RF Nariman, has directed the registry to list the matter as the first item tomorrow and asked the Kerala Government to file its response by the end of the day.

"It is shocking that in a medical emergency, the government is playing with the lives of citizens through such measures. The Government of Kerala is ready to sacrifice the health and life of innocent citizens during this critical situation," the application filed on behalf of PKD Nambiar through Advocate Preeti Singh stated, reports LiveLaw.

"The political interest and cause cannot overcome the fundamental rights of the citizens of this Nation. The said act of the Government of Kerala is nothing but politically motivated, moreover the said decision is totally contrary to the observation and the spirit qua which this Hon'ble Court has shown it's concern over the present pitiable situation of this Nation," the application stated.

On Sunday (18 July), IMA said that while many northern states like Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have stopped the traditional and popular pilgrimage yatras, the 'learned' state Kerala had taken these retrograde decisions.

The medical association demanded the Kerala state government withdraw its order immediately and enforce zero-tolerance against appropriate covid behaviours.

Though Kerala logged 16,148 new Covid-19 cases and 114 deaths on Saturday (17 July), the highest in a month, the CPM-led state government has decided to relax lockdown restrictions for three days from Sunday because of the Bakrid festival.

Bakrid will be celebrated across Kerala on Wednesday.

The decision to allow the functioning of shops was taken during a meeting convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan with a delegation of Kerala Vyapari Vyavasayi Ekopana Samithi (KVVES) led by their leader T Naseeruddin.