Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Mar 10: On Tuesday, the state high court took Karnataka state government to task for not modifying the order blocking movement of people on the roads linking Kasargod district with Dakshina Kannada. It passed these remarks when considering a public interest litigation filed by advocate from Kasargod, B Subbayya Rai, questioning the order dated February 18 issued by Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner restricting movements on the linking roads. The petition was taken up by a bench presided over by the Chief Justice A S Okha.

When the case came up before the bench, the advocate for Karnataka state had said that there was proposal to modify the order and asked for time. The court gave three days’ time, and the case again came before the high court bench. But the government advocate did not file any modified order, and instead, provided a copy of the proceedings of a meeting headed by the deputy commissioner.

Karnataka high court (file photo)

The high court, after going through the memo, observed that there are 25 entry points between Kasargod and Dakshina Kannada district out of which only four have been kept open. It said that this is against the central government order. It noted that no decision was taken at the March 8 meeting to modify the February 18 order. It wanted to know under what provisions, restrictions have been imposed in 21 roads.

Advocate for the petitioners pointed out that restrictions pertain to only the roads leading from Kasargod.

The high court said that the February 18 order does not mention about closing roads leading to Kerala. It sought an affidavit giving reasons for restricting movement of people from a single district, before adjourning hearing to March 15.

Dakshina Kannada district deputy commissioner Rajendra K V, Said that an affidavit on the issue would be filed in the high court. He said that in the coming days, the issue of allowing entry of people from Kerala through other check posts including the four already permitted will be considered at the village level.