Delhi High Court has issued the directions to the family of four who recently came from the UK and were sent to 7-day institutional quarantine even after being tested negative for Covid-19, be sent to 7-day home quarantine. The court noted that guidelines of the Centre and Delhi government are contradictory.
Justice Prathiba M Singh stated that there was no clarity in the notifications regarding the quarantine of passengers coming from the UK. The court has also asked the Delhi government to “give clear instructions to the IGI airport to display the current SOP prominently on its website, so that travellers are aware and there is no confusion”.
The court said, “All these notifications are contradictory and there is no clarity as to which are applicable. There is no clarity whether the January 29 SOP continues to be in operation in view of the stand of the central government.”
“Since there is no clarity about the SOP and the petitioners (family) include two minor children below the age of 10 years, they shall remain in home quarantine instead of institutional quarantine. They shall strictly adhere to the quarantine norms,” the court said.
Advocate Ganesh Chand Sharma appearing for the family submitted before the court that the family landed in India on February 20 and even after they were tested Covid-19 negative, they were “illegally and unlawfully” sent to institutional quarantine in a five star hotel at Hotel Vivanta in Dwarka in Delhi.
The petitioner submitted that the whole family had undergone Covid-19 tests before starting from the UK and were tested negative. They were given a “fit-to-fly” certificate.
The petitioner had sought their release from the alleged “illegal confinement” and also sought directions that the cost of their “forced” stay at the premium lounge of IGI airport at ₹ 2,600 per person at the hotel be borne by the Centre and Delhi government.
