[BREAKING] Pressure groups of any manner cannot infringe upon right to life, follow our orders given in Kanwar Yatra for Bakrid: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Tuesday took a dim view of the relaxations in lockdown extended by Kerala government for Bakrid and ordered the State to strictly follow the orders of the top court in the Kanwar Yatra case. .The Bench of Justices Rohinton Fali Nariman and BR Gavai said in its order,"We direct State of Kerala to give heed to Article 21 read with Article 144 of the Constitution of India and follow our orders given in the Kanwar Yatra case.".On the Kerala government's submissions that it was being pressured by the public to relax the restrictions, the Court said that giving in to such pressure discloses a sorry state of affiars."To give in to pressure groups so that the citizenry of India is laid bare to a nationwide pandemic discloses a sorry state of affairs. Even otherwise, homilies such as “as far as possible” and assurances from traders without anything more, do not inspire any confidence in the people of India or this Court," the Court said. It further said that the affidavit submitted by the State government does not safeguard the right to life and health of the citizens. "We may only indicate that this affidavit discloses a sorry state of affairs as has been stated hereinabove, and does not in any real manner safeguard the Right to Life and Health guaranteed to all the citizens of India under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. It may also be pointed out that the relaxation for one day to a Category D area was wholly uncalled for," read the order..The order was passed on a plea filed by Delhi resident PKD Nambiar taking objection to COVID-19 lockdown relaxations in the State of Kerala due to Bakrid. The plea was filed as an intervention application in the suo motu case already initiated by the Supreme Court regarding the holding of the Kanwar Yatra by Uttar Pradesh..In his plea, Nambiar submitted that Kerala has been showing alarming numbers of COVID-19 cases though other states have improved their situation."To the utter dismay of India's citizens, Kerala government announced a 3-days relaxation of lockdown restrictions on July 18, 19 and 20 keeping in view the upcoming Bakrid festival," the plea filed through Advocate Preeti Singh said..[BREAKING] Plea filed in Supreme Court against relaxation of lockdown restrictions by Kerala for Bakrid.The Kerala government had informed the Supreme Court that it relaxed COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in view of Bakrid to "alleviate the misery" of traders who claimed that sales during the festive season would bring them some respite from the economic slowdown..In a late night reply filed before the Supreme Court on Monday, the State had submitted that traders have stocked up he goods for this purpose and that organization of traders had started to agitate against stringent curbs declaring that they will open shops all over the State in violation of the regulations.These factors were taken into consideration by the State in arriving at a decision to relax the lockdown.The State maintained that all COVID-19 protocols will be adhered to during the relaxation period..[BREAKING] Lockdown relaxation for Bakrid due to demand by traders to alleviate their miseries: Kerala govt tells Supreme Court.The Kerala government also stated that Chief Minister has appealed that only persons who have taken at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine may visit these shops..The Court had earlier taken suo motu cognizance of the Uttar Pradesh government's decision to allow Kanwar Yatra. The Bench had said that it will pass orders restricting the Yatra if the State does not take steps in this regard.Subsequently, the Yatra was called off by the State. .[Read Order]