Kochi, April 1 : After three days of hearing, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday night issued interim orders, asking the Centre to open the border connecting Kerala's Kasargode district to Karnataka's Mangaluru.
Since last Thursday, Karnataka had closed the border, after Kasargode had become the hotbed of positive coronavirus casest.
A division bench headed by Chief Justice S.
Mani Kumar issued the interim order after hearing both the sides - Kerala and Karnataka -- through video conferencing, issued the interim order.
The bench refused to give one more day, when the Centre's counsel asked for it.
In the interim order, the bench said it is the responsibility of the Centre to open the border as it is a national highway and Karnataka has no right over it..."
The court said the final orders will be issued later and the two sides can come back again.
Kerala for the past three days has been pleading for opening the border with even Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan speaking to PM and two Union Minister and telling them numerous Keralites go to Mangaluru for medical treatment.
By now, seven people from Kerala passed away after not being able to cross the border and reach Mangaluru, forcing the bench to speak tough and pointed that they are forced to issue the interim orders, as lives are precious.
--IANS
sg/vd.
Source: IANS
