Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 20: The state high court, in an interim order passed on Monday October 19, said that downloading of Aarogya Setu app which is helpful in finding contact with infected persons, is not compulsory and those who have now downloaded the app cannot be denied facilities.

A person named Anivar Arvind had filed public interest litigation questioning the government order that had made downloading of this app mandatory. When it came before a division bench headed by Chief Justice A S Oka, the government advocate sought time to respond. Advocate for the petitioner objected to it, and pointed out that the central government had sought time repeatedly on this issue and the high court had given enough time. "The central government has been saying that it is not compulsory but the central personnel and administrative training ministry has been saying that this is compulsory," he stated.

The bench observed that without backed by any law, such a stand cannot be enforced and wanted to know how this condition can be made applicable to people not possessing cell phones. Advocate for the central government said that the central executive committee of National Disaster Management Authority is final on the issue and that the committee has clarified that this app is not mandatory. He also said that none of the authorities have so far said that facilities would be denied to those who do not download the app.

Still the advocate sought time to file objections. The bench adjourned the hearing to November 10.