Supreme Court stays Allahabad High Court order on lockdown in 5 Uttar Pradesh cities

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 20

The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the Allahabad High Court’s order imposing COVID-19 lockdown in five cities of Uttar Pradesh.

A Bench led by CJI SA Bobde, however, asked the UP government to report back to the High Court on the steps taken by it to deal with pandemic situation.

“In these circumstances, there shall be an interim stay on the judgment of the High Court. However, the Uttar Pradesh government shall immediately inform the High Court of steps it has taken and to be taken in future,” it said.

The top court also appointed senior Advocate PS Narasimha as Amicus Curiae to assist it in the matter.

Earlier, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned the matter for urgent hearing and sought a stay on the operation of the high court’s order.

“…We have done a lot of things and many things have to be done. We are not going into merits but please allow circulation today since five cities are involved,” Mehta said.

He said lockdown in the five cities by a judicial order of the high court may not be a correct approach to deal with the pandemic.