State asked to file reply over waiving-off test reports on the entry of tourists

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh High court on Wednesday asked the state Government to file a reply on next hearing as to why it has waived off the condition of RT-PCR negative test report on the entry
of tourists into the state.
The state government had decided to wave off the condition for tourists entering the state from June14 onwards.
Division bench comprising of Chief Justice Mr Narayana Swamy and Justice Mr Anoop Chitkara
passed this order while hearing a PIL petition regarding the Covid-19 pandemic on Wednesday.
The counsel for the petitioner Ms Vandhana Mishra told UNI that Ashutosh Gupta versus state case was
listed for the hearing on Wednesday. During the hearing the petitioner pointed out that despite the court
order to increase the Covid testing from 20,000 to 30,000 per day the state Government did not increase the tests.
The counsel for the petitioner also pointed out that instead of increasing Covid-19 testing, the state has relaxed the condition of compulsory RT-PCR testing for those who are entering in the state, which
may lead to a disaster.
The Court has asked the state to explain why it was not increased Covid-19 testing and waived off the negative RT-PCR testing report for tourists.
The Counsel for the state demanded time to file the reply and the Court fixed this case for filing of reply by the
respondent on Jun 21.
While hearing this PIL on May 29 the High court has stated that testing of Covid-19 should be incresed from 20 to 30 thousand
on the war footing to tackle the pandemic. The court has observed in the case that RT PCR tests are not being conducted on the scale they are required to be carried out.
The PIL was taken on court’s own motion over death of number of people due to insufficient ICUs, Oxygenated bed. The petitioner Ashutosh Gupta pointed out before the court that several patients died due to want of Oxygen or ICU beds in Sirmour district recently.