Karnataka Govt Issues Revised Guidelines For Inter-State Travellers Relaxes Conditions Of Quarantine And Registering On Seva Sindhu Portal [Read Circular]

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Ashok S Kinagi took on record the revised guidelines and disposed of the petition filed by Advocate M Indira Priyadarshini. "In view of the decision recorded in the revised circular, nothing survives in the petition. Accordingly it is disposed of, it said.

The revised guidelines states all asymptomatic travellers can report to work or perform their activities in Karnataka without any requirement of 14 days home quarantine. However, they shall self monitor their health for 14 days from the date of their arrival for any symptoms of COVID-19 like fever, cough, cold, throat pain, difficulty in breathing, etc and immediately seek medical consultation without fail or call Apthamitra helpline 14410.

Further the circular says that following aspects have been discontinued henceforth for interstate travellers, they no longer need to register themselves on the Seva Sindhu portal. They will not be subjected to mandatory medical check up at the entry of the state borders or bus, airport or rail stations upon arrival. The 14-day quarantine or isolation and testing protocol is also being withdrawn.

Enforcement of home quarantine, including poster on home door, information to neighbours/ Resident Welfare Association/Apartment Owners' Associations, monitoring from Panchayat/ ward level teams, flying Squad, IVRS call-centre outbound calls, quarantine watch app monitoring is also discontinued.

"This revised Circular shall apply to all inter-state travellers arriving in Karnataka from all States/UTs including business travellers, students, labourers coming for work, transit travellers, etc. irrespective of their purpose of visit or duration of stay in the state. Deputy Commissioners of all Districts / Commissioner, BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) are hereby instructed to implement this with immediate effect and without any deviations at district levels," it says. However people with symptoms shall immediately self-isolate and seek medical consultation without fail or call Apthamitra helpline 14410.

In the previous hearing the court had said "The state government will have to justify this action of taking self declaration from travelers making it mandatory for them to register on the Seva Sindhu portal." The government is also directed to justify the clause in its protocol dated June 8, making it mandatory for daily travellers to upload letters from employers, on the portal for issuance of e-pass.

The petitioner had argued that clause 1 in the SOP issued on June 8, issued by the Department of Health and Family Welfare of the State government making it mandatory for travelers to self register on the Seva Sindhu portal. The clause is contrary to the Unlock 3 guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs on July 29, which allows free, inter and intra-state transport of people and goods.

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