7 Apr 2020, 12:56 PM IST
New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday informed the Supreme Court that the issue between Kerala and Karnataka relating to the latter closing the border has been resolved. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared for Centre and told SC that there exists no issues now and guidelines have been prepared for transportation of patients between the states.
Those patients from Kerala, who are not coronavirus positive and had been seeking treatment at Managaluru, will be allowed to cross the border to Karnataka, Mehta said.
The bench under Chief Justice S. A. Bobde was considering the case. Mehta in the video conference, however, did not give any details regarding the guidelines prepared.
Also the lawyers who appeared for Kerala and Karnataka didn’t oppose the claim. Following this, the apex court observed that all cases relating to the issue have been resolved.
On Monday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said in a press conference that neighbouring Karnataka has agreed to allow ambulances carrying patients other than COVID-19 cases through Talapady border in Kasaragod district for treatment at hospitals in Mangaluru during the ongoing lockdown.
The breakthrough came two days after the Supreme Court through video conferencing asked the Chief Secretaries of Kerala and Karnataka to hold discussions with Union Health Secretary for an amicable settlement of the issue and decide on parameters to be maintained in case of health emergencies.
“Karanataka will open Talapady check post and allow ambulances carrying patients other than COVID-19 infected ones. A medical team of Karnataka will be stationed there and would examine the patient before allowing them to enter that state,” he had said.
The patients from Kerala need to carry a certificate mentioning the hospital which they plan to visit in Mangaluru, he had added.
Karnataka had closed its borders with Kerala after Kasaragod became a hotspot of coronavirus with at least 128 positive cases till now.
COO – IndSamachar
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