The Centre on Monday objected to Kerala government’s decision of allowing additional relaxation during the nationwide lockdown imposed by it.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that the decision to allow opening of restaurants and book shops was a violations of lockdown measures imposed by the central government.
Allowing bus travel in towns, pillion rider on two wheelers and two passengers in back seat of the car was also a violation of the lockdown, the MHA said in the letter.
“Government of Kerala has circulated revised guidelines for lockdown measures. In its order, Kerala Government has allowed opening of activities which are prohibited in the 15th April MHA order,” news agency ANI quoted sources citing the letter by the Centre.
“Such additional activities allowed by Kerala Govt, includes opening of local workshops; Barber shops; restaurants; book stores; MSMEs in municipal limits; bus travel in the cities/ towns for shorter distance etc,” they added.
“This amounts to dilution of guidelines issued by MHA and violation of MHA order dated 15th April issued under the Disaster Management Act 2005,” the letter read further.
The Kerala government has announced relaxation of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions in two zones, allowing among others private vehicles movement in an odd-even basis and dine-in services at hotels from Monday.
Kerala on Sunday reported two positive cases of COVID-19 in the state, taking the total number of affected to 401 while the health department announced that 13 people were cured.
Several key sectors, including Agriculture, construction, Information Technology(IT), industrial units in the SEZs and rural areas, will be resuming oprations across the country from today as the Centre has given its nod to jumpstart the halted economy and also reduce the distress caused to millions of people. The relaxations lay strict emphasis on social distancing with a warning by the Centre it will be withdrawn if there is any violation of lockdown norms.
The permitted activities from April 20 are aimed at ensuring agricultural and related activities remain fully functional, rural economy functions with maximum efficiency, employment opportunities are created for daily wage earners and other members of labour force, select industrial activities are allowed to resume their operations, with safeguards and mandatory standard operating protocols and digital economy, the MHA said.
The Centre had earlier directed the states to not “dilute” the lockdown norms stated by it.
Union Home Secy Ajay Bhalla, in a letter dated April 19, had asked Chief Secretaries of all states/UTs drawing their attention to the guideline that state/UTs govts shall not dilute the guidelines under Disaster Mgmt Act, 2005 in any manner and shall strictly enforce the same.
Experts say that the Centre has an upper hand in ensuring that its orders are enforced. Article 254 of the Constitution says that if there is any inconsistency between a law made by the Parliament and those made by states, then the law made by the central government shall prevail.
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