The Allahabad High Court has urged the Uttar Pradesh government to enact a two-week lockdown in the state to stem the rapid increase in coronavirus incidents.
When hearing a suo moto petition on the COVID-19 crisis in Uttar Pradesh, the high court made the statement.
“I again request, if things are not in control then impose a two-week lockdown. Please suggest it to your policymakers. It is blowing out of proportion, that is the first thing it seems.” Justice Verma said.
“There is a shortage of doctors, there is a shortage of staff, oxygen, and there is no L1, L2. Everything is good on paper, but the fact is that there is a shortage. With folded hands, we request you to exercise your discretion,” added Justice Varma.
The high court has asked the UP government to consider enforcing a full lockout in the worst-affected districts for the second time.
The high court’s appeal comes nearly a week after the Supreme Court stayed an Allahabad High Court order ordering lockdown in five cities across the state in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The HC had previously ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to enforce stringent restrictions in five cities: Allahabad, Lucknow, Varanasi, Kanpur, Nagar, and Gorakhpur, including the closure of malls, shopping centers, and restaurants until April 26.
However, the order was stayed by a supreme court bench led by Chief Justice SA Bobde after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Uttar Pradesh, told the court that while the state government has taken many measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, locking down five cities by judicial order might not be the best solution.
Last week, the Uttar Pradesh government declared a weekend curfew throughout the state from Friday evening to Monday morning, pending further instructions.
It also agreed to keep the state’s night-long curfew in place on weekdays.
