PANAJI
The Goa government’s moves to try and get the High Court to water down its orders making it mandatory for people entering the state to produce a Covid negative certificate came a cropper after the High Court rejected the petition filed by the Advocate General.
The High Court which had made it mandatory for all persons entering the state to produce a certificate of a test done 72 hours prior to arrival or less from Monday, May 6, onwards.
The Goa government had opposed such moves citing logistical issues as well as the fact that such instructions could affect supplies to the state as well as the economy.
The High Court had however given the Goa government the opportunity to seek a modification of its orders through the filing of a detailed application.
On Tuesday the High Court rejected the application.
Adv Nikhil Pai, who represented the South Goa Advocates Association, the primary petitioners, said that the High Court pronounced the dismissal or the plea but that has kept it open for the State government to apply for a modification at a later date.
“On Tuesday, the Goa government filed an application seeking a waiver. The state has been granted permission to file an application afresh as and when the need arises but at the moment the HC is of the view that there should be restrictions on people who are entering and this should not be a free for all entry,” Adv Pai said.
This order was later modified by the High Court based on the applications made by the State government wherein essential services, essential goods were allowed to be brought in by persons who did not carry a covid negative certificate.
The High Court had earlier asked the Goa government to make sure that entry to the state was not free for all.
“The statistics suggest that the positivity rate in Goa is still high. The medical infrastructure is severely overstretched. The Doctors and nurses and the paramedical staff at the forefront of this fight against the epidemic are exhausted.
Therefore all concerned must realize that there is no unnecessary insistence of waiver in the name of protecting the interests of the economy. No doubt, the importance of the economy can never be undermined, but at this stage at least, the priority and emphasis shall have to be on issues of health and survival. Ultimately, the economy is for the people and not the other way round,” the High Court had said last week.
“Once the position improves, obviously the focus can and perhaps will have to shift on the economy. As of now, none can afford to remain in a state of denial about this crucial issue which is taking away the precious lives of our people,” the bench of Justices M S Sonak and Nitin Jambre, said.
