[Kerala - Karnataka Border] "There is a concept of Federalism, you cannot simply close borders:" Karnataka High Court to State govt

States cannot simply close its borders to people from other States without backing of adequate rules empowering the authorities to do the same, the Karnataka High Court observed on Tuesday. .A Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj, noted that the guidelines issued by the Central government currently in force do not permit border closures. ."There is a concept of Federalism, you cannot simply close borders," the Court said..It, therefore, proceeded to direct the Karnataka State government to make a statement that all check-posts across the Kerala-Karnataka border are open and that only negative RT-PCR reports is being mandated for persons entering the State from Kerala and nothing more..The Court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition challenging the restrictions imposed by Karnataka government on the movement of public along the Kerala-Karnataka Border in view of the rising number of Covid-19 infected persons..The Karnataka Government informed the Karnataka High Court that the directive of the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district to close rarely used check-posts at Kerala border will not be acted upon..The Additional Government Advocate also informed a Division Bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj that Clause 3 of the directive issued on March 15, will be reconsidered. .Clause 3 of the said directive states the following:"In consideration of the situation, every gram panchayat,/urban local bodies/municipality/town municipality, shall identify the points of the arrival in their respective jurisdiction to facilitate the public/student opening of the checkpost which are more likely to be used and closing of check post which are rarely used such decision must be taken and directions issued for arrivals from Kerala/Maharashtra state by Panchayat Task force committee which is already in existence.".[Kerala-Karnataka Border] Karnataka High Court terms State's new order on travel restrictions as "arbitrary, worse than previous order".The Court recorded the submissions of the AAG in its order. "AGA on instructions states that clause 3 of the proceedings will not be acted upon," the order said. .During the hearing on Tuesday, advocate K Ravishankar appearing for the petitioner B Subbaya Rai brought to the notice of the Court, the latest guidelines issued by the Union government dated March 23, which gives no room for imposition of restrictions on inter-and intra-state travel. The counsel appearing for the Central government re-affirmed the same by stating that "no border restrictions has been imposed in the latest guidelines."The Court then asked the State government to make a statement that all the check-posts across the Kerala-Karnataka border are open. The matter will be heard next on April 1. .Previously, the Court had expressed displeasure at the modified order passed by the Karnataka government regarding restrictions on-road travel from Kerala in the wake of the recent rise in COVID-19 cases in the State.The Court had urged the State government to withdraw the same observing that the modified order passed by the Deputy Commissioner of Dakshina Kannada on March 15 is misconceived and issued without any application of mind.