A deserted view of BHU road in Varanasi during Sunday lockdown in Uttar Pradesh in the wake of rising Covid-19 cases.
UP Lockdown Latest News, UP Lockdown Update Today: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted an interim stay on the Allahabad High Court's order wherein it directed the Uttar Pradesh government to impose lockdown in five cities that are worst affected by Covid-19 in the fresh wave. The state government earlier today approached the apex court against the HC's order directing it to impose strict restrictions till April 26 in Lucknow, Allahabad, Kanpur Nagar, Varanasi and Gorakhpur.
A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde also appointed senior advocate PS Narasimha as amicus curiae to assist it in future hearings in UP lockdown case.
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the UP government, told the bench that lockdown by judicial order may not be right approach. "Allahabad HC order imposing lockdown in five cities will create immense administrative difficulties," the state submitted.
The bench took note of state government's submissions that it has taken steps to prevent spread of coronavirus and granted an interim stay on the HC order.
Earlier on Monday, reacting to the Allahabad HC's order, the UP government had said there will be no "complete lockdown" in the cities for now.
A two-judge bench comprising justices Siddhartha Varma and Ajit Kumar had passed the lockdown order on a PIL on the condition of quarantine centres in the state and treatment of coronavirus patients.
Notably, the Uttar Pradesh government has already announced a lockdown across the state on all Sundays till May 15. Only sanitation, sanitisation and emergency services will operate during this period.
The state has witnessed a spurt in coronavirus cases over the past few weeks. Currently, the state has more than 1.91 lakh active cases and more than 9,800 people have lost their lives.
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