Were any Covid-19 tests conducted in Suryapet after April 22, High Court questions Telangana government

Hyderabad: The High Court Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy, heard a public interest litigation on Monday through Video Conference filed by Varun Sankineni hailing from Suryapet district. The plea was that the number of Corona positive cases in the Suryapet area is increasing due to health officials holding tests on primary suspects and ignoring the asymptomatic patients.

The counsel for the petitioner, G Pujitha contended before the court that the State Government has stopped conducting Covid-19 Tests on locals residing in Suryapet District since April 22. Moreover, the State government has declared Suryapet as Green Zone, despite havoc in the district. The petitioner's counsel requested the court to direct the State government to take up Covid-19 tests on all the people of Suryapet District.

The High Court Bench directed the State government to furnish a comprehensive report with regard to the extent of Covid-19 testing carried out by the government amongst the population in Suryapet and whether any tests have been carried out in Suryapet after April 22 or not.

The Bench also wanted to know at the State level for Covid-19 tests, how many testing laboratories are available where people can go and test themselves. As it is being made available in Kerala, is there any plan for the State Government to make mobile covid-19 testing laboratories available in the Telangana State, it wanted to be apprised of. The Bench directed Advocate General B.S. Prasad to file the report in the next hearing and the case was adjourned to May 26.

What is the position of Covid-19 in Nirmal district, asks HC

The High Court Chief Justice Division Bench directed the State Government to intimate what is the factual position prevailing in the Nirmal District regarding Covid-19, as it is declared as Green Zone.

The HC was hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Chinnola Naresh Reddy from Nirmal alleging that there is no social distancing maintained by people on the ground that Nirmal is under Green Zone Category. The petitioner alleged that the officials are not conducting tests on the people.

The Bench directed the Nirmal District Collector to ensure people in Nirmal District maintain social distance and to monitor how many migrant labourers have come to Nirmal, particularly the labour who hail from Maharashtra, whether they have been tested for Covid-19 and if any positive cases are found, have they been sent to quarantine, the bench questioned.

The Bench directed the State Government to inform the factual position prevailing in Nirmal District in the next hearing. The matter was adjourned to May 26.