[COVID Lockdown] Karnataka High Court quizzes State government after CM BS Yediyurappa's son travels to temple in Mysuru district

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday questioned the State government over the 'special' treatment given to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa' son, BY Vijayendra after he allegedly flouted the COVID-19 lockdown guidelines..On May 18, Vijayendra visited a temple in the Mysuru district’s Nanjangud, while lockdown was in force. .A Division Bench of Chief Justice AS Oka and Justice Aravind Kumar urged the police to file a First Information Report (FIR) under Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act 2020 for the violation of rules as he travelled from Bengaluru along with his wife to visit the temple."Not just Article 14, but isn't this a violation of the Karnataka Epidemic Act... Shouldn't the State file an FIR," the Court asked. .The issue came to fore after a memo was filed in this regard by advocate GR Mohan, who submitted that Vijayendra's journey amounted to a violation of Article 14 of other citizens who had to adhere to lockdown restrictions. ."It is a confirmed fact that there are prohibitory orders initiated by the government banning inter-district travel in the light of the pandemic of covid -19. Then how did Mr Vijendra and his family members travel into the boundary of the district of Mysore from another district? How did the district administration allow his entry into the district of Mysore? Hence we are requesting your good selves to kindly give this clarity to the general public. In this context it would be convenient to the general public if the district administration and the Muzrai department release a circular/order that neither the police nor the district administration officials will prevent general public from visiting and performing poojas in the temples," the memo said. .The memo was submitted in a plea registered suo motu by the High Court after it received two letters highlighting the COVID-19 management in the State.However, subsequently, the Court directed that the petition be posted with petition number WP 7708/2020, which raised concerns of various citizens flouting social distancing guidelines. .During the hearing on Thursday, the Court discussed issues of Remdesivir, vaccination and number of beds. The Court also directed the State government to come up with a rational policy to prioritize the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for citizens who have received the first dose..The state has been asked to respond on the matter by the next date of hearing.