Find common policy for inter-state movement: SC to Delhi, UP, Haryana

The Supreme Court on Thursday (June 4) asked the governments of Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to convene a meeting of officials and decide on a common policy for inter-state movement in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) within a week.

The directive was given during the hearing of a petition by Rohit Bhalla, a resident of Gurugram, who challenged the sealing of borders with Delhi by the Uttar Pradesh and Haryana governments. Bhalla in his PIL said the move was unconstitutional, affected citizens’ right to travel under Article 19 and inconvenienced people who want to go to Delhi to visit ailing relatives.

Related news: Delhi sees highest spike of 1,298 COVID-19 cases

The Gurugram police on Wednesday removed barricades at 11 border crossing points to Delhi and said commuters can travel between the two cities without any restrictions.

On Monday Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced the sealing of the national capital’s borders with Uttar Pradesh and Haryana for a week in view of the rising infections.

In April, the Uttar Pradesh government had sealed its border near Noida in Delhi to arrest the spread of COVID-19. The Noida administration on Sunday said that the border will remain closed till further notice as 42 per cent of the cases have come from Delhi.