Bengaluru: Taking state government to task, the Karnataka High Court has questioned the government why it has not taken any action to restrain Mekedatu Padayatra organized by the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee, amidst surge in Covid cases in the state.

While hearing a PIL, seeking to restrain Padayatra, a division bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Suraj Govindaraj, asked the state government and KPCC to furnish details of Padayatra.

Court asked the state to inform about how and why Mekedatu Padayatra was allowed to be conducted and why no appropriate action has been taken by the state authorities to prevent the Yatra.

Court has asked the KPCC to furnish details about any prior permission was taken by the KPCC to hold Padayatra. Whether KPCC has taken appropriate steps to ensure the compliance of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the state government. If SOP is violated by the respondent, what action will be taken against them, the court asked.

Petitioner’s counsel argued that the KPCC has launched 1 10-day padayatra demanding the implementation of the Mekedatu project across the Cauvery river despite the government putting restrictions due to the surge in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Petitioner further argued that holding such a mega rally organized by the KPCC is a serious threat to public health. Rally may cause for spreading of coronavirus cases in the state, stated in the petition.

PIL seeking direction to the state government, Deputy Commissioner of Ramanagar, and others not to permit any political rallies, padayatra, dharnas and protest during the Covid pandemic. Petitioner seeking restrains the KPCC from continuing with the padayatra with the theme "Namma Neeru Namma Hakku" in any place in the state of Karnataka in terms of clause 14 of Covid guidelines in the government order, restricting holding any public meeting, rallies, protest, padayatra across the state.

Also read: https://24x7liveindia.com/pil-filed-against-mekedatu-padyatra-citing-surging-covid-19-cases