The State Government has informed the Uttarakhand High Court that it is seeking the advice of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) regarding the rapid testing and antigen testing of migrants returning to Uttarakhand at the State’s borders.

 Considering this, the court has directed the State Government to inform the court about this by May 20.

On Monday, the State’s health secretary Nitesh Jha and health director general Dr Amita Upreti informed the court through video conferencing that the state administration is consulting the ICMR on whether the rapid testing of migrants returning from other states to Uttarakhand can be done at the state’s border.

 If the ICMR suggests so rapid testing of returning migrants will be started at the State’s border, the officials informed the court. The matter was heard by the division bench of justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Ravindra Maithani.

Haridwar resident Sacchidanand Dabral had filed a public interest litigation seeking assistance for people affected by the lockdown enforced to contain the spread of Covid-19. During the previous hearing of this PIL, the state’s advocate general had informed the court that about 40,000 migrants from other states are in Uttarakhand while more than two lakh Uttarakhandi migrants and those stranded in other states had registered for returning to Uttarakhand.  In this matter, the high court has also asked the state whether it is being able to follow the Food Securities Act 2013 and the Inter-State Migrant Workmen Act 1979.