In a major development, the Orissa High Court (HC) on Thursday directed the State Government to ensure conduct of RT-PCR test of the people willing to return to Odisha in the respective States before bringing them back.
Hearing a PIL filed by one Narayan Chandra Jena, the court further asked the Government not to allow the returnees into the State if they are found Covid-19 positive during the test.
The petitioner had appeared in person before the court. While court proceedings have remained suspended due to the lockdown, a Division Bench comprising Justices Kumari Sanju Panda and KR Mohapatra heard the PIL taking into account the urgency of the matter.
Jena said he made the appeal before the court after the number of positive cases in Odisha rapidly increased following return of stranded people from various States.
The court ordered the Government to make sure that people wanting to return to Odisha undergo Covid-19 test in the respective States before coming back and to allow only those who test negative for the virus. If anyone found positive, the State Government shall bear the expenses of treatment in the respective States, Jena said quoting the HC order.
“Put up this matter on the next sitting of the Bench, on which date necessary interim order shall be passed,” said the HC directive.
Following the High Court order, the Odisha Government cancelled permission for three trains scheduled to leave Surat for Ganjam on Friday.
The Surat Collector informed this to the media and said those who had booked tickets for the trains would be refunded by the Railways.
However, the Railways said that as per the earlier schedule, three trains have left from Surat carrying Odisha people on Thursday and are scheduled to arrive at Jagannathpur in Ganjam district on Friday.