The Tamil Nadu government on Friday informed the Madras High Court that there exists no plan as of now, to either subject Chennai city or even parts of it, for a complete lockdown to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Chennai: Responding to a query raised in public interest, by a division bench comprising Justice Vineet Kothari and Justice R Suresh Kumar, Additional Advocate General (AAG) SR Rajagopal, appearing on behalf of the government, said, though the number of people testing positive for the virus was on the rise in Chennai, the government is taking all steps to quarantine them and their kin.
“Restrictions are being imposed on the movement of people from specific buildings and streets. The government does not intend to resort to a 100 per cent lockdown in Chennai at present,” the AAG said. “However, decisions on lockdown were being taken by the State based on the recommendations of a technical committee appointed to chalk out ways and means to control the spread,” he told the bench.
To a query posed by the judge about the government stopping the issue of e-passes to residents of Chennai city, the AAG, on terming it as a rumour, clarified that e-passes for travel were issued only by the Collectors of the destination to which a resident of Chennai wanted to visit after considering the circumstances.
“Restrictions are being imposed on the movement of people from specific buildings and streets. The government does not intend to resort to a 100 per cent lockdown in Chennai at present,” the AAG said. “However, decisions on lockdown were being taken by the State based on the recommendations of a technical committee appointed to chalk out ways and means to control the spread,” he told the bench.
To a query posed by the judge about the government stopping the issue of e-passes to residents of Chennai city, the AAG, on terming it as a rumour, clarified that e-passes for travel were issued only by the Collectors of the destination to which a resident of Chennai wanted to visit after considering the circumstances.