GOVINDAN PALIKAPPIL Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The above writ appeals are Public Interest Litigations seeking a direction to reopen all the boarders of the State of Karnataka connecting the State of Kerala enabling the persons in Kerala to travel to Mangalore for treatment and also for the free movement of vehicles carrying essential commodities to Kerala.

(2.) Due to the outbreak of pandemic - Covid 19, lock- down was declared by the Union of India on 24.03.2020 with effect from 25.03.2020 and the boarders of Kerala and Karnataka was closed on 22.03.2020, which resulted in the denial of medical facilities to the people in the northern districts of Kerala, which resulted in two deaths. The people in the Kasaragod District usually depend on the hospitals in Mangalore and they were not in a position to continue their treatment. Aggrieved by the same, writ petitions have been filed.

(3.) Today, when the matter is taken up for consideration, representations were made by the learned counsel for the petitioners as well as the learned counsel for the 6 th respondent in W.P.(C) No. 9413 of 2020, the State of Karnataka, represented by the Chief Secretary, Secretariat, Vikasa Saudha, Bangalore - 560 001, that the matter has become infructuous.