Karnataka refuses to open Kasargod border
KOCHI: Karnataka state government on Tuesday refused to open the Kasargod-mangaluru road used mainly by critically ill patients from the northern-most district of Kerala to reach hospitals in Managaluru. Advocate General (AG) of Karnataka informed Kerala High Court that they are willing to open the state borders at Wayanad and Kannur which were also shut down in the backdrop of COVID-19 outbreak. Two interstate roads from Wayanad to Karnataka, Sulthan Bathery-gundelpet road and Manathavadi-sirgur-mysur road, will remain open during the lockdown, the court was informed. Karnataka also expressed willingness to open the Iritti-coorg-mysore road if the Kannur district Collector gives a request to this effect.
Karnataka had closed the borders with Kerala after the Union government declared 21-day Coronavirus prevention lockdown. High Court was hearing the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Kerala High Court Advocates Association, seeking a direction for opening the roads. Karnataka’s decision to close down the highway had claimed at least six lives so far, apart from hampering goods movement between the two states.
The court procedures were conducted through video conferencing. Karnataka said that they closed the borders to prevent disease transmission.
High Court has limitations to intervene in the matter as this is an inter-state affair, Karnataka AG pointed out.
The rising number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Kasargod and the conversion of Mangaluru hospitals to COVID-19 health care centres were the reasons behind Karnataka government decision.
Kerala made it clear that the closure of border is mere violation of citizen rights and that the citizens in Kerala are denied treatment and essential supplies. Kerala also contended that Karnataka has no right to close the national highway and requested them to open Iritty, Kodagu and Virajpet roads.
High Court had observed while hearing the case that patients should not be stopped at the border and that no lives should be lost in the name of preventive measures.
Six patients died as they were prevented by police from proceeding to hospitals in Mangaluru in Karnataka.
The bench comprising Justices AK Jayasankaran Nambiar and Shaji P Chali instructed the Karnataka government to provide the names of the two Mangaluru hospitals which can provide necessary treatment to critically ill patients.
With 97 infected patients, Kasargod has the largest number of COVID-19 cases in Kerala. More than 7,437 people are under observation in the district. The people of Kasargod are largely dependent on the medical facilities in Mangaluru for critical illness care.