No prior nod needed, just e-registration for travel, govt tells court

No prior nod needed, just e-registration for travel, govt tells court

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:29.10.2020 

The e-pass system in Tamil Nadu has been replaced by e-registration regimen, which is an automated process requiring no prior approval for travel, the Tamil Nadu government has informed the Madras high court.

International travellers entering the state and travellers to hill stations must do e-registration prior to their travel, Tamil Nadu advocate-general Vijay Narayan told the first bench of chief justice A P Sahi and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy on Wednesday.

“The state government has passed a government order on October 27 modifying the restrictions for movement of public in view of the pandemic,” he said, adding that through e-registration, a traveller should provide his basic details like address and contact number for the purpose of contact-tracing in case of spike in Covid-19.

The issue pertains to a PIL filed by K R Ezhil Nadhi challenging the restriction imposed by the government prohibiting travel to hill stations in the state.

Representing the petitioner, advocate Abishek Jebaraj contended that in view of the powers exercised by the Union ministry of home affairs, guidelines were issued on September 30, which restrains the states from imposing lockdowns outside containment zones.

It was made clear that there must be no restriction on inter and intra state movement, he argued.

It was the petitioner’s contention that e-registration requirement should be made post-travel and authorities should not insist on a pre-travel registration.

Refusing to concur with the submission, the bench said the state has substantially resolved the problem by passing the government order and disposed of the plea.

The state government made the submission to the court hearing a plea that challenged restrictions on travel to hill stations. The court disposed of the petition saying the state has taken adequate measures

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