Is Random Testing For Covid-19 Possible?, Allahabad HC Asks UP Govt [Read Order]

The direction was passed by the bench of Justices Siddhartha Varma and Ajit Kumar while hearing the suo moto PIL titled "In-Re Inhuman Condition At Quarantine Centres And For Providing Better Treatment To Corona Positive".

The Additional Advocate General Manish Goyal, appearing for the State submitted that India being a welfare nation, with limited resources, is not in a position to go in for random Covid-19 testing. He further submitted that there is a protocol for actually allowing a person to get tested.

However, the court said it was keen on knowing the feasibility of the proposal.

"The anxiety of the Court is to know as to how, now almost after two and a half months of the first lockdown, the State is proposing to go in for random testing," it remarked.

The bench also asked the Government about the actual cost of testing, per individual.

"The Court upon seeing that the Covid-19 infection is increasing everyday in the State of U.P., is keen to know whether random testing is possible and what is the actual cost of Covid-19 testing for one particular individual," the order states.

Vide order dated May 26, 2020, the Telangana High Court had also directed the State to carry out random testing, and community testing.

Similarly, as per the order issued by the Additional Chief Secretary (H&FW) of the Karnatak government, the state will now begin random testing on people including slum-dwellers, vendors/bill collectors in malls, supermarkets, markets and footpaths, and delivery boys of food chains and couriers.

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