The Supreme Court today directed the Centre to ensure a common and uniform system of pass in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, State of Uttar Pradesh and State of Haryana within a week for interstate movement of citizens in NCR area during Lockdown.
The bench comprising Justice Ashok Bhushan, Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice MR Shah has further directed the Centre to convene a meeting with the Uttar Pradesh, Delhi & Haryana and to reach a solution failing which the Centre’s guidelines will become redundant.
Justice Kaul emphasized that for the NCR region, there should be a consistent policy. The bench noted that no counsel has appeared for the Delhi government though it was served on the matter. “One policy, one path and one portal required”, said the bench.
The bench was hearing a petition by a Gurgaon resident Rohit Bhalla challenging the decisions of the Haryana and Uttar Pradesh administrations restricting movement for permissible activities in area falling within the NCR. The petitioner has alleged that the restriction imposed on the movement is unconstitutional.
The petitioner has also highlighted the difficulties being faced by the citizens due to the restriction which has also hampered industrial operations since the workers employed in these industries are not being able to travel across the borders.
The petitioner owing to the difficulty faced by people in getting passes has prayed that a common portal or mechanism be devised for issuance of movement passes within the NCR region for permissible activities.
-India Legal Bureau