New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India will hear the Kerala government’s response to a plea against the state’s decision to ease lockdown restrictions ahead of Eid-al-Adha (Bakr-Id) on Tuesday at a time when the State is facing an alarming increase in Covid -19 cases.

An SC bench, led by Judge Rohinton F Nariman, had asked the state government to table its response on Monday.

Senior lawyer Vikas Singh, representing his petitioner PKD Nambiar who had filed a request to intervene against the state government’s call to relax the borders, told the Supreme Court that Kerala currently has the highest number of daily cases of coronavirus in India.

“It is surprising to know that Kerala is still growing in numbers while others have removed the situation. Kerala has an official positivity rate of 10.96% and yet the relaxation has been granted. Kerala has 13,000 cases while Uttar Pradesh has far fewer cases of COVID. The court should make orders quashing the easing, ”Singh said.

In its response, the Kerala government asserted that “the lockdown cannot go on indefinitely” as it affects traders.

“The confinement cannot be extended indefinitely. People are frustrated with sidewalks. Experts said the state is unlikely to face a strong third wave due to rapid and systemic vaccination, ”the Kerala government response reportedly said.

Appearing for the Kerala government, lawyer G Prakash told the SC bench that the state has only allowed certain stores to reopen.

“The lockdown has been lifted outright for this reason in some areas to facilitate the festival, otherwise all standards for Covid-19 are strictly adhered to,” the lawyer said.

The request to intervene was made in full knowledge of the decision of the government of Uttar Pradesh to detain Kanwar Yatra while Uttarakhand banned the pilgrimage.