The court further pointed out that the rate of hospitalisation is 36 per cent in Kasaragod. The order was issued based on a plea challenging the district collector's decision to cancel all covid restrictions in Kasaragod.

Meanwhile, the CPM has cut short the three-day meeting to two days. The party representatives said that the decision was made because there would be complete lockdown on Sunday.

Allegations have been made that the collector lifted the restrictions so that the party congress could proceed without any restrictions.

District collector Bhandari Swagath Ranveer Chand had announced the decision banning all public meetings shortly after the covid evaluation meeting. However, soon enough, the decision was cancelled. Questions were raised about whether the decision was taken under pressure from the ruling CPM or not.

The district collector has come forward claiming that there was no pressure. "The restrictions were first announced based on earlier criteria. With revised guidelines, we cancelled the decision," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)