SC asks Delhi, UP, Haryana to prepare plan for smooth movement in NCR

Tribune News Service

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New Delhi, June 4

As lakhs of commuters face problems in crossing Delhi borders adjoining Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Sonepat and Faridabad during COVID19 lockdown, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked the governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to consider having a common pass system for NCR for smooth inter-state movement.

A Bench headed by Ashok Bhushan asked them to hold a meeting with the Centre’s help to explore the possibility of “one policy, one portal” for movement within the Delhi-NCR.

It asked them to take a decision in a week after the Centre submitted that it was for the states concerned to decide on inter-state movement.

The direction came on a petition filed by Gurugram resident Rohit Bhalla highlighting the plight of commuters. He said Delhi-NCR should be considered as a single region and Delhi’s borders with Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Sonepat should be opened.

Terming the UP and Haryana administrations’ decisions to restrict movement for permissible activities in NCR through “blanket orders of sealing borders without reasonable exceptions” as illegal, he said it violated citizens’ rights.

The top court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to take instructions as to how to resolve the difficulties faced by commuters in NCR due to restrictions on inter-state movement.

The Bench said there was a recommendation that suggested a common pass for the entire NCR region.

The restrictions violated MHA’s May 1 guidelines which allowed traffic movement for permissible activities, Bhalla alleged.