Gujarat police seek review of HC circular mandating COVID tests before arrest

Ahmedabad: The police department has filed a revision application in the Gujarat High Court, requesting a review of the court’s circular that made Covid testing mandatory for arresting any accused. This application is expected to be heard in the coming days.

If the decision is reconsidered, it could bring relief to the Gujarat Police, which has been continuing Covid testing for the accused, even though the World Health Organization (WHO) has removed Covid from its list of global diseases.

During the pandemic, the Gujarat High Court had issued a circular to the Police Department, making Covid testing a prerequisite for accused individuals before they were arrested and brought to court or sent to jail. The police have been adhering to this directive, which they claim consumes a significant amount of time.

DGP Shamsher Singh, who oversees the Law and Order Division, explained that even the WHO no longer considers Covid a global disease.

“The honorable Gujarat High Court’s decision was enforced during the pandemic, requiring a Covid report before an accused person could be sent to jail or court. A petition has now been submitted in the Gujarat High Court to amend the previous court decision,” Singh stated. DeshGujarat