PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has granted interim relief exempting vehicles carrying goods and essential supplies from producing COVID-19 negative certificate. The waiver was granted on Tuesday evening, following a plea by the State government which mandated that the negative certificate will affect supplies into Goa.
The Bench comprising Justice M S Sonak and Justice Nitin Sambre accepted the miscellaneous civil application subject to conditions.
“The said waiver is granted by way of interim relief in this application… We, however, make it clear that State administration should make sure that only the absolutely essential number of persons travel in such goods vehicles making essential supplies,” the bench ordered.
Adjourning the matter for further hearing on Wednesday, when other PILs on COVID-19 management will also be heard, the bench emphasised that under no circumstances these goods vehicles should carry any passengers in Goa.
The State had moved an application for clarification/modification of the Court’s order passed on Tuesday morning, making mandatory carrying of COVID-19 negative certificate by every entrant into Goa (except for medical emergency on producing proof and those coming in an ambulance).
“The District Magistrates will issue necessary orders/corrigendums by today evening (Tuesday) correcting the earlier orders which had been issued. However, due to certain exceptional and genuine reasons, the present application is being filed seeking limited modification/clarification for persons entering the State in goods vehicles as the same will otherwise affect essential supplies such as oxygen, medical drugs and equipment, milk, vegetables, food grains, eggs, meat, gas cylinders, etc, until this court considers applicant’s request for modification of order dated May 6, 2021 tomorrow,” the application filed by Revenue Secretary Sanjay Kumar stated.
The government apprehended that essential supplies will be affected on a daily basis if court did not grant the relief.
