Public Interest Litigation on 7 days home quarantine for international travellers

The petitioner submitted that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued guidelines for international arrivals dated January 7, 2022 which provided for protocols to be complied by international travellers as well as those to be followed by airlines

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A Public Interest Litigation has been moved in Delhi High Court, reports ANI, that has sought the Government of India to reconsider its guidelines for international arrivals. All travellers have to undergo seven days home quarantine on arrival in India.

The petitioner Pravasi Legal Cell, through Advocate MP Srivignesh, submitted that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued guidelines for international arrivals dated January 7, 2022 which provided for protocols to be complied by international travellers as well as those to be followed by airlines.

The plea stated that as per the guidelines, incoming travellers were required to upload their Covid-19 RT PCR test results on a government portal to be monitored by regional authorities on the eighth day, while continually monitoring their health for another week.

Petitioner Pravasi Legal Cell (NGO) also submitted that countries all over the world had made it mandatory for travellers to provide 72-hours pre-departure RT-PCR test results which was sufficient to show that the person was not infected

Those passengers found to be symptomatic during the screening would be isolated and taken to a medical facility. If positive, their samples would be sent for genome sequencing to confirm the Omicron strain. All other passengers would have to observe seven days mandatory home quarantine.

The plea further said that the guideline making it mandatory for all international passengers to undergo seven day home quarantine has affected the international passengers especially NRIs and other Indians working abroad to make a short visit to India for various reasons.

Petitioner Pravasi Legal Cell (NGO) also submitted that countries all over the world had made it mandatory for travellers to provide 72-hours pre-departure RT-PCR test results which was sufficient to show that the person was not infected. However, the insistence on seven days mandatory quarantine have made it difficult for all the Indians travelling back for short trips, the plea stated.

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