HC directs govt to file report on bringing back stranded TN Tablighi attendees

The Madras High Court on Thursday

directed the Tamil Nadu government to submit a status report on the steps taken to bring back stranded people from the state, who had attended a religious conference in Delhi in March.

A division bench of Justices Vineet Kothari and Pushpa Sathyanarayana directed the government to file the status report on a petition by Asa Umar Farooq and posted the matter for further hearing to May 12.

Claiming that the central government had alerted its citizens on the COVID-19 pandemiconly on March 14, the petitioner said there was no ban ordered against any gatherings, religious events or public meetings till then.

He further submitted that the Prime Minister had asked the public to observe 'Janta curfew' for a day on March 22.

Till then, no medical emergency was announced in the country by the health department.

It was only when the Centre realised the gravity of the situation arising out of the disease that it was declared as a national disaster ...